LIFE STORIES FROI* 
THE OLD AND N 
TESTAMENT 

JENNY B. MERRILLPAfiT 




Class 

Book__ 

fopyiiglitN^. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



LIFE STORIES FROM THE 
OLD AND THE NEW TESTAMENT 

JENNY B. MERRILL, Pb.D. 



And they helped every one his neighbor. 

And every one said unto his brother. 

Be of good cheer! — Isa. 41. 6. 



LIFE STORIES 

FROM THE OLD AND 

THE NEW TESTAMENT 

A Course of Bible Lessons 

For Daily Vacation Bible Schools, 

Week Day Religious Schools and 

Religious Training in the Home 

BY 

JENNY B. MERRILL, Pd.D. 

Co-editor of the "Manual of Graded Bible Courses" of the 

International Association of Daily Vacation Bible 

Schools, and "The Supplementary Manual for 

Training Classes, Teachers, Kindergartens," etc. 




NEW StWW YORK 



GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY 






COPYRIGHT, 1922, 
BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY 



LIFE STORIES FROM THE OLD 
AND THE NEW TESTAMENT. II 

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

JUL 26 1922 



©CI.A681106 



TO MY MOTHER 

WHOSE WINSOME VOICE 

AS SHE TOLD HER CHILDREN BIBLE STORIES 

REVERBERATES THROUGH THE YEARS 



FOREWORD 

'*Life Stories from tlie Old and the New Testa- 
ment" will be found suitable for use in the Daily- 
Vacation Bible School, the week day Eeligious 
School and for religious training in the home. 

As many Daily Vacation Bible Schools are re- 
assembling summer after summer, new Bible 
courses are being sought ; schools organizing will 
find a goodly number of such courses that have 
been tried and proved in the International Manual 
of Graded Bible Courses, in the Supplementary 
Manual for Training Classes, and at denomina- 
tional and other publishing houses. 

As there is an evident desire, indicated by 
examination of many reports from Daily Vacation 
Bible School centers, to include both the Old and 
the New Testament in the Bible work, this course 
is presented to meet the demand. 

It will be seen that the Bible lessons have been 
taken mainly from the first book in the Old Testa- 
ment and the first book in the New. 

This has been done partly to give the teacher 
and the parent an opportunity if the children are 
sufficiently mature, to interest them in the fact 
that the Bible is a collection of books. 

An attempt has been made in ^^Life Stories" to 

vii 



vui FOREWORD 

interest the children in reading selected parts of 
the Gospel of Matthew both in the school and at 
home. The single Gospel of Matthew should be 
provided for those who can read. There is an 
edition of Stories from Genesis in Bible language 
in the Moulton series, omitting chapters not suit- 
able for child readers. The *^ Shorter Bible'' is 
also recommended. 

^^Life Stories from the Old and the New Testa- 
ment" is adapted primarily for use in *Hwo 
grade" schools. In such schools, the children 
under seven or eight years of age are separated 
from the older boys and girls and follow a 
primary Bible course, while the principal con- 
ducts the Bible work with the rest of the school. 

The course offered in this book has been pre- 
pared with this older group in view. 

If a school is large and has teachers to warrant 
further grading, the children from six to eight 
constitute the primary grade, the children from 
eight to ten are called ' * Juniors, ' ' and those from 
ten to twelve are the ^^Intermediate" group. The 
school then has four grades, Beginners, Primary, 
Junior and Intermediate grades. 

If children over twelve are entered, they usually 
meet with the Intermediates, but in some churches 
a Senior grade is recognized. Several courses 
of interest have been prepared for a Senior grade, 
or a suitable book is chosen for study. One Daily 
Vacation Bible School reports such a class held in 
the evenings during July and August. 



FOREWORD ix 

If the school is one of four grades, '^Life 
Stories'' may be used in either the Junior or in 
the Intermediate grade according to the needs of 
the children. 

There is an earnest endeavor to relate Bible 
work to the every-day needs of child life in order 
to develop Christian character. After all, it is 
the child we teach, not any set of lessons. 

To make this purpose more evident, the course 
has been entitled '^Life Stoeies from the Old and 
the New Testament." Double titles have been 
given to the lessons, the first title suggesting a 
practical touch with the life of a child; the 
second title naming a story from the Bible 
which illustrates and helps to enforce the life 
lesson. 

In developing each lesson the Introduction aims 
to arouse interest and curiosity and to awaken an 
*4nner urge," to use Dr. Kilpatrick's telling 
words, — an inner urge to listen to the story, and 
later to carry the life lesson out in some practical 
way. 

If the mother or the teacher can arouse this 
*4nner urge" in the child, listening to the story 
becomes the child's own project — ^for writers on 
the project method which is now claiming the at- 
tention of many educators, tell us that the proj- 
ect method may be applied to listening to a story, 
to singing a song or hymn, to memorizing and 
drilling as well as to constructive work. 

The difference between the old method and the 



X FOREWORD 

new is mainly in the child's attitude towards the 
work to be done. 

The child may memorize because of external 
pressure, or from * ' inner urge. ' ' The skill or tact 
of the teacher must find a way to make the child 
purpose to be his own driver, to urge himself to 
memorize. Beware, however, what selections for 
memorizing are planned. 

It is worth while to arouse the listening attitude 
before beginning to relate a story, perhaps by a 
picture, or by merely a question. Pictures are 
listed in the appendix for every story. 

Making Bible Picture Albums is an appropriate 
project for a Bible School, is it not? Equally 
helpful will such handwork prove in the home. 
Pages in the Album may be reserved for copying 
the Bible texts or even for short reproductions 
of the story. If a child is not able to write the 
story, he may write the names of the persons in 
the picture. 

To dramatize a story will make it more im- 
pressive, and may aid in securing that ^' inner 
urge" which will develop the real hero in life. 
Pictures will aid such work by suggesting scenes 
and even costumes. Dialogue or simple dramatic 
scenes are introduced in a number of these *^Life 
Stories." 

Get it fixed in mind that the child must be ac- 
tive, not passive, not mere physical activity 
though that too is often to be desired — ^but he 
must be active in thinking, he must purpose, he 



FOREWORD xi 

must choose, he must imll to DO — ^while you as 
teacher must be steadily conscious that it is your 
aim to aid the child to be an active being, who 
carries into daily living the Heavenly Father's 
Will— 

"And they helped every one his neighbor, and every one 
said unto his brother. Be of good cheer." 

To arouse both desire and will to carry the 
meaning back of the story into active life is the 
acme of success. 

Jenny B. Merrill. 

New York City. 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

FOREWORD vii 

PART I: LIFE STORIES FROM THE OLD 
TESTAMENT 

First We eh 

LESSON 

1. A NEW HOME: Story of Abraham . . 

2. A THIRSTY BOY: Story of Ishmael . 

3. A KIND GIRL: Story of Rebekah at the Well 

4. "LOOK UP^': Story of Jacob's Dream . 

5. REVIEW 



17 

24 
30 
36 
41 



Second Week 



6. "MAKING UP": Story of Jacob and Esau ... 44 

7. A DREAM AND A COAT THAT MADE TROUBLE : 

Story of Joseph and his Brothers ... .49 

8. BEARING TROUBLE BRAVELY: Story of Joseph 

in Egypt 54 

9. BEING THRIFTY: Story of Joseph Storing Food to 

Save the People of Egypt and His Own Family . 59 

10. REVIEW AND MISSIONARY STORY ... 62 

PART II: LIFE STORIES FROM THE NEW 
TESTAMENT 

Third Week 

11. HOW DO WE KNOW ABOUT JESUS?: Story of the 

Four Gospels 69 

12. WATCHING THE SKY: Story of the Star of Beth- 

lehem 75 

13. THE HOME OF A CARPENTER: Story, "Egypt 

to Nazareth" 80 

xiil 



xiv CONTENTS 

LESSON PAGE 

14. HAVING EARS TO HEAR: Story of the Message 

of John the Baptist 86 

15. REVIEW 90 

Fourth WeeJc 

16. TEMPTATIONS: Story of Jesus in the Wilderness, 

Forty Days and Forty Nights 93 

17. CARING FOR THE SICK: Story of Jesus Teaching 

and Healing the Sick 98 

18. EIGHT WAYS TO BE BLESSED: Story of the Ser- 

mon on the Mount 102 

19. THE GOLDEN RULE: Story of Jesus' Rule of Love 106 

20. REVIEW 110 

Fifth Week 

21. LEARNING TO PRAY: Story of the Lord's Prayer 114 

22. LEARNING FROM BIRDS AND FLOWERS: 

Nature Stories 119 

23. A KIND MASTER HELPING HIS SERVANT: 

Story of the Centurion 124 

24. "PEACE, BE STILL": Storv of a Tempest and a Wild 

Boy 127 

25. REVIEW OR MISSIONARY STORY .... 132 

Sixth We eh 

26. CARING FOR THE BLIND AND THE DUMB: 

Five Stories of Jesus' Love and Power . . . 135 

27. THE VALUE OF LITTLE THINGS: What Jesus 

Said about a Cup of Cold Water ... .140 

28. A KIND MESSAGE TO A PRISONER: Story of 

John the Baptist in Pfison 145 

29-30. REVIEW AND PREPARATION FOR CLOSING 

EXERCISES 151 

I^IEMORIZING SELECTED PASSAGES OF SCRIP- 
TURE 160 

SUGGESTIONS ON THE USE OF PICTURES . 164 

List of Bible Pictures (6x8) W. A. WHde & Co., 

Boston 165 

List of Bible Pictures (3x3%) George P. Brown & 

Co., Beverly, Mass. . . . " . . . .168 



PART I 

LIFE STORIES FROM THE OLD 
TESTAMENT 



First Week 

LESSON 1 : A NEW HOME 
Story of Abraham 

BIBLE readings: Gciiesis 12:1-9; IS: 1-11. 

MEMORY text: And Abraham said unto Lot, "Let there be 
no strife, I pray thee, between thee and me and 
between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen for we are 
brothers/' Genesis 13:8-9. 

pictures: Wilde, 350. Brown, 425m. 

INTKODUCTION 

Give each child a registration card or a blank 
paper if regular cards have not been provided. 
Bead the card with the children, or if they are old 
enough, ask them to look it over. If they can 
write, furnish pencils, and have at least name and: 
address written. Tell the children how much you 
think of these cards and how carefully you mean 
to keep them— that you hope to see their homes 
some day. Ask mother if it will be convenient 
for you to call and when. Continue the conver- 
sation as long as proves advisable, listening to the 
remarks the children may make with real interest,, 
meanwhile getting acquainted. If the class is too 
large for this intimate conversation, sKow the 

17 



18 LIFE STORIES FROM OLD TESTAIMENT 

registration cards from the platform. They may 
be blanks, or those that have been filled out at the 
door by a secretary. 






a 



DAILY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 
Registration Card, Season 19 . 

Fill out -in detail a registration card for every child who attends. Do not 

throw away cards of children who may cease to attend. Preserve the complete 

set for the use of the church visitor. At the cJose of the season <}epostt it with 
the Pastor or with a responsitije representative: 



Child's Name....^.... 



Nationality 



1 Father.. 



[Mather.^.. ^._ 

Parent'i Religion, ._ 

Address- , 

Sunday School or Not. „ Day School Grade- 

N. B. — Punch or check attendance each day. 



. Age 



— Floor ,™, 



BOY 



GIRL 



7HISI> W£££ 

M. T. *W. T. F. 



FOURTH WEEK 

M. T. W. T. F. 



FIFTH WEEJK 

I. T. W. T. F. 



SIXTH WE£X 

M. T. W. T. F. 



Eegistration is a very important matter in any 
well conducted school. The children should be 
made to realize it by your attitude. A child's 
name is very important to him and his teacher's 
interest in it will please him. 

^'I want you all to have a good name in this 
school. Do you know what that means ? Who has 
a Bible at home ? Will you find Proverbs 22 : 1 
and bring it in written to-morrow?" Give the 
xeference on a card to every child who promises 
to try to find it. Be sure to ask for it next day. 

A child's home is a very important place to him 
and should be to his teacher. Let him feel your 
interest in his home and in his parents. ^^See, we 



A NEW HOME 19 

have a space for your parents' names. Can you 
write themr' 

^^Once I knew a boy who did not know his 
parents' names and I was sorry for him. Here 
is a hard word on your registration card na-tion- 
al-i-ty. Does any one know what it means 1 I will 
write part of it on the blackboard" (or on a sheet 
of cardboard) . Teacher writes 

NATION 

**To what nation do we all belong "F The Ameri- 
can nation. What other nations have you heard 
of?" Teacher writes a list of nations as the boys 
and girls suggest them. *^What stands for our 
nation! Yes, indeed, our flag. We have one here 
and shall we salute it every day 1 ' ' 

*'You have written your address upon these 
cards. Have you always lived at this address!" 
Take plenty of time for answers. These details 
are interesting to children and your interest in 
them will awaken the child's interest in you. 

*^I know a boy who has lived in three different 
cities in America, Louisville, Chicago and New 
York. He likes to hear stories about these cities 
and about moving from one to the other. He 
wants to hear how old he was when the family 
moved and why they moved. He likes to find the 
cities on the map. He knows what state each city 
is in. Do you! Are they all in the United States 
of America? Do you know why some people who 



20 LIFE STORIES FROM OLD TESTAMENT 

were not born in America make up their minds to 
move to onr country f Listen to answers. Im- 
press the fact that many fathers and mothers 
bring their children to America because we have 
so many schools where children can learn to read 
and write, and because we have so many Churches 
where they can worship God in the way they think 
is right. ^^Have any of you heard about the Pil- 
grims who came to our country long ago ? in what 
ship? Why did they move to a new homeT' 
(Show pictures of the Pilgrim celebration of last 
year.) 

THE STOKY OF ABRAHAM 

To-day I want to tell you about a great man 
who lived many, many years ago — probably 4,000 
years ago instead of 300, like the Pilgrims — in a 
country far over the ocean. 

Perhaps after I tell you the story, some one 
will know his name. It is a great and good name 
and many know it though this man lived 4,000 
years ago. Please do not say his name until I ask 
for it even if you know it. 

This man lived in a city called Ur, but he de- 
cided to move to the land of Canaan. (Write these 
two names on the blackboard or on paper, placing 
them in their relative positions as if on a map.) 
I will tell you why this man decided to move. He 
was a '^Friend of God" and wanted to please 
God. He talked to God as we do when we pray. 



A NEW HOME 2t 

fc— and God talked to him just as God talks to us 
if we know how to listen. Perhaps you do not 
yet know how to listen to God, but if you come 
every day to this Bible school, I think you may 
learn how to listen to God speaking to you. 

This man was sure that God wanted him to 
move to Canaan to help the people there to be 
good. Many of the people in Canaan were very 
wicked. God told this man he must be a blessing 
to every one — ^^In thee shall all the families of the 
earth be blessed. '' Who will repeat those words? 
Another try — another. Let us say them together, 
^^In thee,'' etc. Does any one know this man's 
name? Can any one write it for us? Yes, it was 

ABKAHAM 

But at first his name was Abram. When you are 
older you will hear why it was changed a little. 

When Abram moved, his wife Sarah of course 
went with him. They were both old people. 
Abram was seventy-five years old. His brother 's 
son, whose name was Lot, went too, and many 
other relatives and helpers. Abram had many 
cattle to take. He was a rich man. What are 
cattle? Yes, sheep and cows, goats, camels, etc. 
Abram had flocks and herds and tents, and they 
all had to be taken care of on the journey. It 
was a long journey for those days. Many had to 
walk for there were no cars so long ago. Prob- 
ably the children rode on the camels. It was very 



22 LIFE STORIES FROM OLD TESTAJVIENT 

long ago. How many years did I say! I want to 
tell you one more thing about Abram and Lot and 
then I must close this story for to-day. 

One day some of the men who took care of the 
animals got to quarreling. Some of Abram 's men 
told Lot's men that there was not enough grass 
for all the animals, nor water enough either. They 
grew very angry about it and tried to drive each 
other away. Abram heard it. He remembered 
that God wanted him to be a blessing so he called 
his nephew, Lot, and said, ^^Let there be no strife, 
I pray thee, between me and thee, and between 
thy herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are broth- 
ers,'' Who can say that! Another! Another! 
I will write it on the blackboard. Eead it. 

Abram said, ^^If you want to take your men to 
the left hand (point), I will go to the right, or if 
you take the right I will go to the left" — and so 
they did. Don't you think it was a good way to 
settle a quarrel! How do you settle quarrels! 

Now memorize the text, choosing boys to repre- 
sent Abram and Lot. Let Abram read verses 8 
and 9, pointing to the two directions. Have the 
boys walk away in opposite directions. Appoint 
two other boys to do the same a second time, 
asking Lot to reply in his own words to Abram. 
This very simple drama will help in holding atten- 
tion and in memorizing the words. If desired, a 
group of boys on each side may represent the 
herdsmen. The herdsmen may appear to be dis- 
puting about the matter when Abram and Lot ap- 



A NEW HOME 23 

pear and each asks, ^'What is this trouble about! 
Why do you dispute 1 ' ' 

How many will know the words well by to-mor- 
row? Copy them now. We may have the little 
play again. 

Closing, Lessons have names as well as boys 
and girls. Who can suggest a name for this story? 
Let children give their reasons for the names sug- 
gested. Choose one or give one. I shall keep a 
list of the names of our lessons upon this long 
strip of paper. (The back of a roll of wallpaper 
may be used.) I hope you will come every day so 
as not to miss one story. How many lessons will 
we have time for in five weeks? in six? Refer to 
registration card here and explain the weekly re- 
view. We will have a review on Fridays to help 
us remember the names of the stories and the 
memory texts. I have another long strip on which 
I will write the first few words of the memory 
texts. Who will help take care of these rolls? 
Who will hang these two strips up for us every 
day so that we can see the list grow? Suppose 
you make lists for yourselves to take home. On 
the last day of our school, we will invite your 
parents and friends to hear you tell some of the 
stories and recite the texts. I think it would be 
a good thing if you should tell this story of Abra- 
ham to other boys and girls. Invite them to come 
to hear the next story to-morrow. It will be about 
a boy who lived with Abraham in his tent. 



LESSON 2: A THIRSTY BOY 

Story of Ishmael 

BIBLE readings: Genesis 21:8-20. 

MEMORY text: And God heard the voice of the lad. 

Genesis 21: 16. 
pictures: Wilde, 353, 355. Brown, 428m, 430m. 

INTKODUCTION' 

How many of you have been studying Geog- 
raphy this year? Have you seen a globe? I have 
brought one to-day. What can you tell me about 
it? (Listen to all any one has to say. If you 
cannot secure a globe use any ball. K no one 
calls attention to the fact that the globe shows us 
that there is three times as much water as land, 
turn the South Pole to the class and let them 
discover how little land can be seen.) How many 
oceans are there? Can we drink the water of 
the ocean ? Why not ? Did you ever wonder why 
there is three times as much water as land? 

I will tell you a story about some ocean water 
that lost its salt so that people could drink it. It 
sounds like a fairy story but it is really true. 

The sun shone so warm upon the ocean one 
day that much water turned into vapor. Vapor 
is much like the steam that you have seen coming 

24 



A THIRSTY BOY 25 

out of the spout of a kettle on a hot stove. This 
vapor that rose from the ocean was so light that 
it flew up to the sky and made clouds. The wind 
came and blew the clouds over the land. This 
vapor grew cold and colder, and what happened? 
It turned into snow and fell down on a high moun- 
tain. The sun shone upon the snow on the moun- 
tain until some of it began to melt. What was it 
then? Yes, it had turned back into water. Down 
the water ran. More and more snow melted until 
there was a river. A boy tasted the water in the 
river and it was good to drink. It was not salty 
like the ocean. Now here is a puzzle for you to 
think out. Where was the salt? We won't talk 
about that to-day for I must tell you another 
story about a boy who was so thirsty that he 
nearly died of thirst. There was no river near. 
He was in a desert. We have all been thirsty but 
I hope not as thirsty as Ishmael. That was the 
boy's name I am to tell you about. (Write Ishmael 
on the blackboard.) Before I tell you about 



will you tell me where you get water to drink? 
How does water get into your house ? Where does 
it come from? Yes, it comes from rivers some- 
times. Pipes are put into the ground and into 
our houses. The water often runs up the pipes 
to the top of the house. Perhaps some of you live 
on the top floor. Did you ever wonder how water 



26 LIFE STORIES FROM OLD TESTAMENT 

can run up ? That is another puzzle to think about. 
In the country, people sometimes get water from 
wells. Who can tell me anything about a well! 
(Listen attentively to the children's experiences 
if they have had any.) How does water get way 
down there in the ground? There is another 
puzzle. I think you w^ill need to go to school a 
long time to learn all the wonderful things about 
water and about our wonderful world that God 
has given us. Water is very wonderful and very 
necessary. We need a great deal of good fresh 
water to drink every day and to help us keep our- 
selves, our clothing, our homes and our streets 
clean. I am looking now to see whether you are 
all clean children. I am glad so many are clean. 
It is healthy to be clean. We should bathe our- 
selves well every day. We cannot be healthy un- 
less we drink much good water. Water helps us 
to be clean inside as well as outside. Will you 
remember that? I will place on the wall a 
^^ Health card'' to remind you about water and 
several other health rules. 



THE STORY OF ISHMAEL. 

But I must hasten to tell you about this boy who 
nearly died of thirst. Ishmael lived with his 
mother whose name was Hagar, in Abraham's and 
Sarah's tent. There was a little baby boy in the 
tent too. Do you remember who Sarah was? 
Abraham and Sarah loved their little son very 



A THIRSTY BOY 27 

much. He was their only son. They named him 
Isaac which means laughter because he made them 
happy. We often laugh when we are happy, don't 
we? When Isaac was a year old Abraham and 
Sarah had a great feast with their friends. It was 
like a birthday party. 

Ishmael was a big boy about as old as you are. 
He did not like babies very much, I am sorry to 
say. I am afraid that Ishmael was a thoughtless 
boy. Sarah saw Ishmael mocking or making fun 
of her baby. It was a pretty mean thing to do, 
wasn't it? Sarah was angry and told Abraham 
that Ishmael and his mother, Hagar, could not live 
any longer in their tent ! 

Abraham loved Hagar and Ishmael but he 
thought perhaps it was better for him to send them 
away. He prayed about it just as I do when I am 
uncertain what to do. God answered Abraham 
and made him sure that it was right to send them 
away. So one morning Abraham rose early and 
*^took bread and a bottle of water and gave it 
to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder. ' ' That was 
the way they carried water long ago. The water 
was not in a glass bottle like our bottles, for peo- 
ple did not know how to make glass in those 
days. This bottle was made of the skin of an 
animal. It was something like our rubber water- 
bags. Then Abraham sent Hagar away with her 
child. Hagar hardly knew where to go to live. 
She wandered about until all the water was gone. 
Ishmael grew so thirsty that he could not walk 



28 LIFE STORIES FROM OLD TESTAMENT 

any further. Hagar made him lie down under a 
bush to keep off the hot sun, 

I have asked one of our boys to read what hap- 
pened. The story is right here in the Bible. 

(A child should have been selected the day be- 
fore and should have read it to the teacher several 
times. If this has not been convenient so early 
in the course one of the teachers may read it. 
The reading should be given promptly so as not 
to break the continuity of the story. In some cases 
it may be preferable to finish telling the story and 
to read it afterwards. The reading should be 
from Verse 16, through Verse 20, stopping with 
the word ^'archer.'') 

Write the memory verse on the blackboard. 
*^And God heard the voice of the lad." Ask the 
children to read the words silently and think about 
them. After a pause ask, ''Does God hear boys 
now?" 

The words ''archer" and "lad" may need to be 
defined. Some children may speak of Hiawatha. 
Let some one draw a bow and arrow. Does 
any one use them now? Ask why it is not safe 
to play with bows and arrows, especially in the 
city. 

Closing. Let children name the lesson. Add 
it to the list. Add the first three words of the 
memory text. Eeview the two names and texts. 
Also ask who found Proverbs 22 : 1. Who knows 
itf Shall we aU repeat it? "A good name is 
rather to be chosen than great riches." 



A THIRSTY BOY 29 

To-morrow our story will be about a girl who 
won a good name. Bring your friends to hear it. 

Note. A tableau may be arranged if there are 
€onveniences showing Abraham, Hagar and Ish- 
mael at the moment they are leaving the tent. 
Copy a good picture of this scene. I should not 
attempt the scene in the desert, but a second 
tableau might be shown of Ishmael as an archer. 
These dramatic pictures interest the children and 
are worth while. 



LESSON^ 6: A KIND GIRL 

Story of Rebekah at the Well 

BIBLE readings: Gcncsis 24: 1-67. 

MEMORY text: And she made haste and let down her 
pitcher from her shoulder and said, "Drink and I 
will give thy camels drink also." Genesis 24 : 46. 

pictures: Wilde, 246, 360, 36l, 362, 363, Brown, 436m, 
437m, 438m, 440m. 

II^TKODUCTION 

Yesterday I told you a story about two boys. 
Wlio were they? Can any one write tlieir names 
on the blackboard? 

ISHMAEL ISAAC 

How old was Isaac in that story? How old was 
Ishmael? There are more stories about these boys 
in the Bible that you may read some day. I can- 
not tell them all now. To-day I shall tell you about 
the girl whom Isaac married. Her name was 

EEBEKAH 

Rebekah 's father was Abraham's cousin. He did 
not go to the new country with Abraham and Lot. 

30 



A KIND GIRL 31 

He stayed in the old home. As Isaac grew up, 
Abraham and Sarah often talked to their only 
son of the old home and of the cousin who still 
lived there. Perhaps your father tells you about 
his old home in another country. Abraham told 
Isaac that the women in the old home were better, 
stronger, purer women than those who lived in 
Canaan. The children in the land of Canaan were 
not taught about the God of Abraham. They wor- 
shiped idols. One day Abraham and Sarah asked 
their son Isaac not to marry any of the girls of 
Canaan. 

Abraham said, ^^IsTow that you are grown up 
and old enough to marry, I will send one of my 
best servants back to our old home to see if he 
can find a good young woman to be your wife. 
I cannot let you go back yourself, Isaac, for I have 
promised God that I will live in this new home 
always. '* The servant said to Abraham, *' Per- 
haps there will be no woman who will come back 
with me. ' ' But Abraham said, ' ^ Take ten camels 
and many goodly presents and tell my old friends 
what a pleasant home we have in Canaan and that 
God has prospered me. Then if no woman will 
come with you, I will not blame you. If I die, you 
must not let Isaac go back to the old home.'' 
Abraham, you see, loved his old servant and 
trusted him, for he had always been faithful. 

The servant started on his journey with the ten 
camels and the presents. On his way he prayed 
to God to help him find the good wife for Isaac. 



32 LIFE STORIES FROM OLD TESTAMENT 

He reached Abraham's old home at evening just 
at the time when many of the older girls brought 
their father's camels out to a well to drink. A 
camel, you know, is a very large animal and it can 
drink a great deal of water. Abraham's ten 
camels were thirsty too. The servant saw one 
very pleasant young girl drawing water in her 
pitcher for her camels. 

He ran to meet her and asked her to give him 
a drink of water. The girl quickly gave him a 
drink and said, ^*Let me draw water for your 
camels too. ' ' This pleased the servant very much. 
He thought the girl was very kind to be so willing 
to give them all water from the well. It was hard 
work to draw so many pails of water. Did any 
one here ever draw water from a well? How is 
it done 1 Here is a picture of the well. The girl 
you see is E-ebekah. The servant said, ** Whose 
daughter are you?" And Eebekah told him. 
Then she said, ^'We have both straw and food 
and room to lodge. ' ' The servant bowed his head 
and thanked God that he had found such a kind 
girl. He thought she would be a kind wife for 
Isaac. 

Eebekah ran to her mother and told her what 
had happened. Eebekah 's brother ran out and 
said to the man, '^Come in, thou blessed of the 
Lord ; wherefore standest thou without, for I have 
prepared the house and room for the camels." 
The mother set meat before him to eat, but the 
servant said, *^I will not eat until I have told you 



A KIND GIRL SS 

my errand. ' ' The brother said, * ^ Speak on. ' ' The 
servant said, ^^I am Abraham's servant. The 
Lord hath blessed my master greatly, and he has 
become great. He has flocks and herds, and silver 
and gold. He has only one son, Isaac. Abraham 
is now very old. He will soon die. He has given 
all that he has to Isaac, but Isaac has no wife. 
Abraham and Sarah do not like the women of 
Canaan. They want Isaac to marry a good girl 
from his old home. He has sent presents for her 
and I want to take her back with me. Eebekah 
was so kind at the well that I gave her the ring 
and the bracelets that Isaac sent. Will she come 
with me r ' Then the father and the brother said 
that Eebekah could go, but the mother said, '*Let 
my daughter wait ten days.' But the man said, 
^ VHinder me not. ' ' Then they called Eebekah and 
said, **Will you go?" And she said, **I will go." 
Eebekah arose and her maids. They all rode away 
upon camels. 

As Isaac was walking in the fields at evening- 
tide, he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, 
there were camels coming. And Eebekah lifted 
up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she lighted 
off her camel. And she said unto the servant, 
**What man is this that walketh in the field to 
meet us? And the servant said, *'It is my master, 
Isaac." And Eebekah took her veil and covered 
her face. Then the servant told Isaac all the 
things that had happened. Isaac was pleased with 
Eebekah. He brought her to Sarah, his mother, 



S4 LIFE STORIES FROM OLD TESTAMENT 

in the tent. Isaac loved Rebekah and she became 
his wife. Sarah, the mother, was very old and 
soon died. Kebekah comforted Isaac after his 
mother's death. 

Closing. If possible give each boy and girl a 
picture of '^Rebekah at the Well." Let them act 
the scene at the well. 

Write name of lesson and the memory text. 

With children of the age of juniors, I should 
dwell upon the scene at the well, rather than upon 
the marriage customs of that time. The story 
carries its lessons of family life with it in the 
telling. The children may be asked to find 
Proverbs 20: 11. ^'Even a child is known by his 
doings. '^ Report next day about ways to be kind 
in our homes and to strangers. If the children are 
particularly interested in animals, let them tell of 
their pets. Impress the duty of those who have 
animals to care for them faithfully. Refer to the 
story of Black Beauty and tell the children of 
Henry Bergh and the Humane Societies. 

The Thornton Burgess stories for young chil- 
dren, and for older children those of Seton- 
Thompson, not only arouse a vital interest in ani- 
mals but also suggest many human traits both de- 
sirable and undesirable. They serve the same 
purpose as fables of animals and in a more attrac- 
tive way. 

In both this lesson and the last, the value of 
water is impressed for both man and beast. Be 
sure to have good drinking water at hand on the 



A KIND GIRL 35 

hot summer days. Teach the children how to make 
paper cups. Ask why one cup will not do for 
all. This may be done during the Health and 
Habit period. 



LESSON 4: "LOOK UP'* 

Story of Jacob's Dream 

BIBLE readings: Gcnesis 28: 10-22. 

MEMORY texts: And he dreamed and behold a ladder set 
up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; 
and behold the angels of God ascending and de- 
scending on it. Genesis 28: 12. 

And Jacob awaked out of his sleep and he said, 
"Surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not/* 
Verse 16. 

pictures: Wilde, S66. Brown, 443m- 

INTEODUCTION 

How many have had a dream that frightened 
them? How many have had a pleasant dream? 
When I was a little girl I wished that I might 
dream of heaven. 

To-day I am going to tell you of a man who 
did dream of heaven. 



STOEY OF Jacob's dream 

This man was far away from his home. He 
was traveling alone out in the country. His name 
was Jacob. He was Isaac's son, and Rebekah was 
Ms mother. When the sun set and it grew dark, 

36 



"LOOK UP" SI 

Jacob lay down on the ground to rest, for he 
had been walking all day and was tired. * ' He took 
stones for his pillows and lay down in that place 
to sleep. And Jacob dreamed and behold a lad- 
der set np on the earth, and the top of it reached 
to heaven, and behold the angels of God going up 
and down on it." 

Jacob in his dream seemed to hear God speak 
to him — and say, *^I am the Lord God of Abraham 
and Isaac. The land whereon thou liest to thee 
will I give it and to thy children. You shall have 
many children and they will help many people." 
Then Jacob seemed to hear God say, *^I am with 
you and will take care of you where you are going 
and will bring you back to your home, I will not 
leave you." Wasn't that a beautiful dream to 
have while Jacob was all alone sleeping out on the 
ground with his head on a stone ? 

I think that Jacob looked up at the stars be- 
fore he went to sleep, and thanked God who made 
the stars to give light at night. I think that Jacob 
asked God to take care of him. He must have felt 
lonely and perhaps was afraid to sleep on the 
ground in the dark night. 

When Jacob awaked out of his sleep and re- 
membered his wonderful dream he said, ** Surely 
the Lord is in this place and I knew it not." He 
was afraid at first. Then he thought of God's 
promise. Do you remember what it was? **I 
am with you and will take care of you." I am 
sure that promise made Jacob happy. Jacob said, 



38 LIFE STORIES FROM OLD TESTAMENT 

^^Tliis is the house of God, and this is the gate of, 
heaven." He named the place Beth-el, and in 
Jacob's language Bethel means ** House of God.'' 
The place was always called Bethel after that 
night though before it was called Luz. 

What do you call a person who can make beau- 
tiful pictures? Yes, an artist. An artist named 
Murillo read this story of Jacob's dream in the 
Bible. He thought it was such a beautiful dream 
that he would try to make a picture of the ladder 
and the angels ascending and descending. I have 
brought one of his pictures for each of you to 
keep, so that you will never forget Jacob 's dream 
and what he said when he awaked. Do you re- 
member! ^^ Surely the Lord is in this place and 
I knew it not. ' ' Who can say it alone I Another ? 
All say it together. Say it more softly. 

Perhaps some night you may be far away from 
your home and perhaps you will dream the very 
same dream. But even if you do not dream, you 
can be sure that God is with you too and cares for 
you every night and every day wherever you are. 

Before you go to sleep to-night, I want you to 
go to the window to see if you can find a star. 
Perhaps you can find more than one star. To- 
morrow I will tell you a story of a brother and 
sister who looked for a star every night before 
they went to bed. 

Closing. Shall we call this our ^^Look up" les- 
son because I want you to *4ook up" every night 
just before you say your prayer! You can say a 



"LOOK UP" 39 

prayer while you are looking up if you want to. 
"What can you say? (Pause.) 

I told you about an artist who painted a picture 
about Jacob 's dream. Now, I wonder if you have 
learned in school what we call any one who writes 
poetry? Yes, a poet. "Well, a poet read this story 
of Jacob's dream and he wrote a poem about it. 
Grown people often sing his poem in church. It 
is a hymn. Would you like to have me sing it for 
you ? If any of you know it you may sing with me. 



"Tho' like a wanderer. 
The sun gone down. 
Darkness be over me. 
My rest a stone, 
Yet in my dreams I'd be 
Nearer my God to thee. 
Nearer to thee. 

There let the way appear 
Steps unto heaven. 
All that thou sendest me 
In mercy given. 
Angels to beckon me 
Nearer my God to thee 
Nearer to thee." 



Perhaps mother sings it at home. You must ask 
her to sing it for you, and will you tell her this 
beautiful story! 

Add title and text to the lists. Have several 
repeat. To-morrow will be review day. I won- 



40 LIFE STORIES FROM OLD TESTAMENT 

der who will know all of our memory verses. 
How many have we on our list? Will you tell 
some one about Jacob 's dream this afternoon, and 
invite a friend to come to hear the story about the 
brother and sister who looked up at a star? 



LESSON 5: REVIEW 

\ 

1. A New Home. (Abraham and Lot.) 

2. A Thirsty Boy. (Hagar and Ishmael.) 

3. A Kind Girl. (Rebekah and Isaac.) 

4. Look Up. (Jacob's dream.) 

1. How many stories have I told you this week"? 
Some children were not here on Monday. Who 
will tell the first story to them? After the story 
is told ask if any one remembers more about it. 
If no one ventures to tell the story, ask questions 
as, What man decided to move to a new home. 
Who went with him? What animals did they 
take? Many or few? What place did Abram go 
to? Who can write the name of the place from 
which Abram moved? Ur. The new place? 
Canaan. Now who will be Abram and Lot and 
show these children what happened? (Repeat the 
simple drama.) If any one here has had a quar- 
rel this week I hope he settled it quietly. 

2. Call for the second and third stories in much 
the same way. 

3. Who can tell our ^^Look up" story? Let me 
first ask how many remembered to ' ' look up ' ' last 
night? Did any one find a star? Was the moon 
up? What time did the sun set? Did it make 
any bright colors? Did you know that the sun 
paints those lovely sunset colors on the clouds? 

41 



42 LIFE STOEIES FROM OLD TESTAJ^IENT 

God made the sun. He made the moon and the 
stars also. It is pleasant to watch them come 
and go. Do yon ever wonder where the snn goes 
when we cannot see it? Tell me what yon know 
abont it. (Children love to tell what they know. 
Give them the chance. You may be surprised at 
the crudity of some of their thoughts, but listen 
and lead on. Encourage them to look up at the 
sky.) Now who will tell these new children about 
the man who ''looked up" in his dream! Who was 
he? (Story told.) Now I will tell you the story 
I promised about the brother and sister who 
watched for a star every night. 

There was a brother and sister who loved each 
other dearly. Every night just before they went 
to bed, they put their arms around each other and 
went to the window to find their star. There was 
one very bright star that they loved to see best of 
all. "When they could see it they both said, ' ' Good 
night, bright star." Then they thanked God for 
the bright star and went to sleep. But after a 
while the little boy had to go to the window alone, 
for his dear sister lay sick on her bed all day. 
She would say, ''Brother, is our star in the sky? 
Can you see it?" "Yes, sister, I see it." Then 
she would say, "God bless my brother and the 
star." At last there was no little sister to speak 
to brother. How he missed his sister but he never 
forgot to look up for the star. 

One night the tears came to his eyes as he 
looked at the star. Through his tears bright lines 



REVIEW 43 

of light came down from the star. They seemed 
to make a ladder right up to the star. At the top 
of the ladder he saw his dear sister. '*0h, sis- 
ter,'' he called, ^*let me come up to you." ^^Not 
yet, brother," she said, ^'but be a good boy and 
some day you shall come to me." 

Closing, Review pictures, titles and texts of the 
week. 



Second Week 

LESSON 6 : "MAKING UP'' 

Story of Jacob and Esau 

BIBLE readings: Gcnesis SS: 1-17. 

MEMORY text: And Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced 

him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they 

wept. Genesis 33:4. 
prayer: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those 

that trespass against us," 
pictures: Wilde, 608, 39. Brown, 185m. 

INTEODUCTIOlir 

When Jesus was a boy abont your age, he asked 
a great many questions. Have you ever seen a 
picture of Jesus in the Temple asking questions 
of the lawyers and doctors? I have such a pic- 
ture here in case some of you have never seen it. 
I should like to give one to each of you for your 
collection of Bible pictures. Boys and girls of 
your age like to make collections. Tell me of any 
you have made. I want you to begin to collect 
pictures made by great artists. Did you notice 
the artist's name on the picture of ^^ Jacob's 
dream"? What was it? 

There is another thing that boys and girls of 

44 



"MAKING UP" 45 

your age like to do. I have been waiting for some 
of you to do it. When boys and girls are inter- 
ested in their lessons they ask questions. I want 
you to ask questions. I wonder if any of you have 
a question to ask about Jacob. (Give time for 
questions.) Perhaps you would like to know 
where Jacob was going, and how it happened that 
he was traveling all alone. It was dangerous in 
those days to travel alone by night and people 
seldom did so. In many places it is dangerous 
now. No one likes to be out in the dark away 
from home and alone all night. 

I will tell you to-day how it happened that Jacob 
left his home alone and where he was going. It 
is a sad story but there was a happy ending. 

STOEY OF JACOB AND ESAU 

Jacob had a brother named Esau. They were 
twins. I am sorry to tell you that Jacob and Esau 
had had a quarrel. It was a very, very sad quar- 
rel. Eebekah their mother heard that Esau had 
said, **I will kill Jacob some day." You know 
that anger is dreadful ! It often makes those who 
are angry say very wicked things. It even tempts 
them to do very wicked deeds. Esau was so angry 
at his brother Jacob that he said, *^I will kill 
him.'' Both boys were to blame. 

When Eebekah the mother heard what Esau had 
said, she quickly called Jacob and said to him, 
**My son, arise, obey my voice, and flee to Laban, 



4S LIFE STORIES FROM OLD TESTAMENT 

my brother, who lives in Haran where I lived 
when I was a girl. Stay there with my brother, 
your uncle, a few days, until your brother's fury 
turn away from you and he forgets how mean you 
were to him." 

I am sorry to tell you that Jacob had played a 
very mean trick on his brother. (If any child 
knows about the trick, let him tell it but other- 
wise omit it.) Eebekah said to Jacob, ^ 'I will send 
for you when I think it is safe for you to come 
home. ' ' Jacob hurried away, not knowing whether 
he would ever see his mother again. I am sure 
that he was very sorry for the wrong he had done. 
He had lost his home. He did not dare to go 
back in a few days. Even the beautiful dream 
made him afraid for he knew that he had done 
wrong. The night that Jacob had the dream of 
heaven, he promised to be God's child. He said, 
*^If God will be with me and will keep me in this 
way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and 
raiment to put on, so that I come again to my 
father's house in peace, then shall the Lord be my 
God." 

Jacob took the stone he had for a pillow and 
set it up and poured oil upon the top of it. He 
said, ^^This stone shall be God's house." He 
meant that it would be like a church. He would 
pray and worship God in that place, just as we 
do in our churches. Do you remember what name 
he gave to the place ? Bethel. 

This happened long ago before people built 



"MAKING UP" 47 

churches. They called a stone like the one Jacob 
set up, an altar. 

Jacob reached his Uncle Laban's house safely. 
He stayed with him in Haran and worked hard 
for his uncle for twenty years. He grew to be a 
rich man. He married and had children. He had 
many sheep and goats and camels. He took care 
of them well. 

At last he thought it best to go home but he 
had to pass near where Esau lived and although 
it was so long since the quarrel, he was still afraid 
of his brother's anger. But when the two broth- 
ers met just listen to what happened! *'Esau ran 
to meet Jacob and embraced him and fell on his 
neck, and kissed him, and they wept. ' ' I have seen 
a picture with their arms around each other. You 
see, Esau had forgiven his brother who had *^ tres- 
passed against him." 

Every day when we say, **Our Father who art 
in heaven,'' we ask God *'to forgive us our tres- 
passes as we forgive those who trespass against 
us." Jesus said, ^*If we forgive, God will forgive 
us." Jacob and Esau were happy because they 
had forgiven each other. 

Then Esau noticed the children with Jacob and 
he said, **Who are these?" And Jacob said, 
*^ These are the children which God has graciously 
given me." I am sure that Esau kissed the chil- 
dren too. He was their uncle. Jacob wanted to 
give some of his sheep and camels to his brother 
for a present, but Esau said, **No, my brother, I 



48 LIFE STORIES FROM OLD TESTAMENT 

have enough." Then Jacob urged him to take the 
present and he took it. 

Closing, A poet wrote this song, ^* Behold how 
good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell 
together in unity" (Ps. 133:1). Shall we learn 
these words as well as our memory verse about 
Jacob and Esau? "What shall we call this story? 
I want to call it *^ Making Up," because I often 
hear boys and girls say, ** Let's make up." What 
do they mean? 



LESSON 7: A DREAM AND A COAT THAT 
MADE TROUBLE 

Story of Joseph and His Brothers 

BIBLE readings: Gcncsis 37. 

MEMORY TEXT I 

1. Love envieth not. I. Corinthians 13:4. 

2. Thou shalt not bear false witness. Exodus 20. 

3. And his father wept for him. Genesis 37: S5. 

4. Behold how good and pleasant it is for brothers 

to dwell together in unity. Psalm 133: 1. 
pictures: Wilde, 568, 368, 607. Brown, 302m, 446m. 

INTKODUCTION 

Long ago people used to think a great deal more 
about dreams than we do, but even now some 
people think dreams are quite important. Did 
your mother ever say, ^' Don't eat that pie or you 
may have a bad dream to-night ' ' 1 When you are 
older you may hear more about dreams and their 
meanings. Sometimes we have pleasant dreams 
and sometimes very ugly dreams, but when we 
wake up we usually forget all about them. It is 
not worth while to tell our dreams very often. 

STORY OF JOSEPH 

There was once a boy named Joseph who had 
two strange dreams. Joseph told his dreams to 

49 



50 LIFE STORIES FROM OLD TESTAMENT 

his big brothers. He had ten big brothers. I have 
chosen a boy to play he is Joseph and ten boys to 
be the brothers. Joseph will now tell his dreams 
and you will see what happens. 

It will add much to the interest to select a boy 
the day previous to represent Joseph, and ten 
others to represent the brothers. Let Joseph 
study the dreams in Genesis 37 : 5-12, so as to be 
able to tell them in his own words or in the words 
of the Bible to the group of ten boys. Joseph tells 
the first dream. One brother calls out roughly, 
^^ Shalt thou indeed rule over usT' Another 
brother, ''Shalt thou indeed have dominion over 
us r ' Another or several, ' ' We hate you. ' ^ Then 
they all make a mock bow and laugh. 

Before the second dream is told, another boy 
representing Jacob should join the group. After 
hearing the second dream Jacob responds, ''What 
is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I 
and thy mother and thy brothers indeed come to 
bow down ourselves before thee!'' (Jacob adds 
a rebuke.) "You should not tell such dreams, my 
son. They make your brothers dislike you, I see. 
Do not tell any more dreams." (If there is a 
blackboard draw the sun, moon, and eleven stars. 
Ask the children which stood for Jacob, for Ee- 
bekah, and what for the brothers.) 

Doesn't it seem foolish to be angry at dreams? 
Before these dreams Joseph had made his broth- 
ers angry by telling tales to his father about them 
when they did wrong. The brothers were rough 



A DREAM AND A COAT 51 

boys. Sometimes it is right to tell wheii you see 
a boy or girl do very wrong, but you must be care- 
ful not to be a * ^ tell-tale. ' ' (Let children tell their 
own experience here if they seem anxious to do 
so.) 

Who has heard about the beautiful coat Joseph's 
father gave himf Let a child tell or read verses 
3, 4. Even such a little thing as a coat made the 
brothers angry. They envied Joseph. Did a new 
dress ever make trouble like this ? I hope you all 
try to be glad when some one else has pretty 
things. You know in our last lesson we heard 
how dangerous anger is. What did it make Esau 
say? Envy is very dangerous too. Who can tell 
what envy means? It means to want what some 
one else has and to be angry and to dislike the 
one who is more fortunate. It wasn't very pleas- 
ant to have such envious brothers, was it? But 
Joseph had one more brother named Benjamin 
whom he loved dearly, for, remember, there were 
eleven stars in the dream. Benjamin was younger 
than Joseph. Joseph and Benjamin were good 
friends. Who was the father of all these broth- 
ers? Jacob, yes, Jacob, the very same Jacob who 
had to leave his home. How long was it before 
Jacob went home again? Whom did he meet on 
the way home ? Where was Jacob going after he 
said good-by to his brother Esau? He was going 
to his old home, the land of — ? Canaan. What 
animals did Jacob own? Did he take them to 
Canaan? Few or many? 



52 LIFE STORIES FROM OLD TESTAMENT 

Jacob lived to be an old man in the land of 
Canaan. His sons grew to be men and all helped 
to take care of the flocks. They were shepherds. 

One day the ten older sons told Jacob that there 
was not enough grass to feed the animals around 
home. They must • drive the sheep and camels 
miles away to find enough grass for so many ani- 
mals. 

After the sons had been gone some days, the old 
father, Jacob, sent Joseph to see how they were 
getting on. (Here two boys, previously drilled, 
may give the dialogue between Joseph and his 
father.) 

DIALOGUE 

Jacob. Do not your brothers feed the flock in 
Shechem? Come, I will send you to them. 

Joseph. Here am I, father. 

Jacob. Go now, see whether it is well with your 
brothers, and well with the flock, and bring 
me word again. (Here Jacob retires and 
Joseph walks about several times as if look- 
ing for some one. Have another boy come 
forward to represent the man Joseph met.) 

Stranger. What do you seek? 

Joseph. I seek my brothers. They are shepherds. 
Can you tell me where they are feeding the 
sheep? 

Stranger. I saw them but they have departed 
hence, for I heard them say, *^Let us go to 
Dothan." 



A DREAM AND A COAT 5S 

(The boys walk away in opposite directions and 
disappear.) I have asked one of our girls who 
has heard this story before to tell what happened 
to Joseph when he found his brothers. I think 
many of you know, but some do not. Let us all 
listen. Story told or read from verses 17-36. 

(I do not advise having children of this age im- 
personate such an evil deed. I prefer to have the 
story told or read by a child or the teacher. Older 
children often continue the play. Introducing the 
two dialogues will be sufficient dramatic work for 
juniors. It will aid in holding attention as the 
narrative is lengthy. It is probable that in many 
junior classes the story will be partly known, but 
all will enjoy the action.) 

Closing. Have children suggest titles for lesson. 
Many may be suggested. Ask if they will accept 
yours, unless you have led them to give it. If the 
children memorized the 13th Chapter of I. Corin- 
thians last year, remind them of the fourth verse. 
^'Love suffer eth long and is kind, love envieth 
not. ' ' Find Psalm 133, verse 1, * * Behold how good 
and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together 
in unity." Drill the four texts given. 



LESSON 8: BEARING TROUBLE BRAVELY 

Story of Joseph in Egypt 

BIBLE readings: Gcncsis 39, 40, 41, 42. 

MEMORY TEXT : And the Lord was with Joseph and he was a 

prosperous man. Genesis 39 : 2. 
pictures: Wilde, 570, 571, 371, 372, 606. Brown, 447m. 

INTEODUCTIOI^ 

I have heard of an interesting movie called 
^^AJice in Hunger land. ' ' I hope you may see it 
some day, for though it is very sad to live in 
Hungerland, it will make you happy to see how 
American boys and girls sent many provisions to 
poor Alice and other children who had almost 
nothing to eat after the Great "War. You may 
help too for even yet some children need food. 
To-day and to-morrow our story will be about a 
famine, a hungry time, long, long ago when Joseph 
was living. Our story tells how Joseph helped his 
brothers when they were hungry. Isn't that 
strange? "What did the brothers do to Joseph? 
Yes, they sold him. What did they think of doing 
first! Which brother tried to save Joseph? Who 
bought Joseph? What did the merchant pay? 
Where were these men going? Joseph must have 

54 



BEARING TROUBLE BRAVELY 55 

felt dreadfully but he was a brave lad. He made 
up bis mind to work bard for bis master in Egypt, 
and not to grumble about bis troubles. 



STOEY 

Tbe king of Egypt was called Pbaraob. 
Pbaraob bad a captain named Potipbar. Sball 
we write tbe king's name? tbe captain's? Poti- 
pbar bougbt Josepb from tbe merchants. Joseph 
worked so well that Potipbar liked him very much 
and soon gave him charge over bis house. It was 
a very large bouse and there was much to do, 
'*And tbe Lord was with Joseph and he was a 
prosperous man." (Repeat and explain.) 

After a time trouble came again to Josepb. A 
wicked woman told a lie about Joseph to Potipbar 
so that Potipbar shut Joseph up in prison. But 
even in prison Joseph helped the keeper and was 
kind to every one. He was brave. He did not 
grumble even about being in prison. Joseph be- 
lieved that God would take care of him. 

One night there were two men in tbe prison who 
bad such strange dreams that they looked very sad 
in tbe morning. When Joseph saw their sad faces, 
he said, **Why do you look so sad to-day?" They 
told Joseph their dreams. The first man was the 
king's butler. He waited on King Pbaraob. He 
carried tbe king's cup. This butler said to Joseph, 
^^In my dream I saw a vine and in the vine were 
three branches. The vine had buds and blossoms 



56 LIFE STORIES FROM OLD TESTAMENT 

and it was a grape-vine. I dreamed that the 
grapes were ripe. I took the grapes and pressed 
the juice into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup 
to the king. ' ' 

Joseph told the butler that the king would send 
for him in three days to come out of prison and 
carry the cup again. Joseph asked the butler to 
remember him and to ask the king to let him out 
of prison. He asked the butler to tell the king 
that he was a Hebrew who had been stolen away 
from his home and that he had not done wrong. 
When the butler got out of prison, he forgot all 
about Joseph. He did not tell the king the mes- 
sage that Joseph had sent. Was that right? 

I have not time to tell you the other man's 
dream. He was a baker. Perhaps some of you 
can read it for yourselves. 

After the butler had been out of prison quite 
a long time, King Pharaoh had a dream that trou- 
bled him very much. He told it to his wise men 
and asked them what such a strange dream meant. 
No one could tell. Then at last the butler remem- 
bered Joseph. He told the king that a man in 
prison could help him understand this dream. 
Pharaoh quickly sent for Joseph and told him the 
strange dream. 

(Here have a dramatic scene as in the previ- 
ous lesson, having chosen and drilled the boys be- 
forehand.) 

Kmg Pharaoh. I have had a dream and no one 



BEARING TROUBLE BRAVELY 57 

can tell me what it means. I have heard say 
that yon nnderstand dreams. 

Joseph, God shall give Pharaoh an answer of 
peace. 

Pharaoh, In my dream I stood npon the bank 
of a river, and behold there came out of the 
river seven fat cows and they fed in a 
meadow. And behold seven other very thin 
cows, such as I never saw in Egypt for bad- 
ness came np out of the river and ate up the 
good cows. So I awoke. 

Then I had another dream. I saw in my 
dream seven good ears of corn on one stalk 
— and seven thin, withered ears sprung up 
after them and devoured them — 

Joseph, The two dreams both have the same mean- 
ing. God has shown Pharaoh in his dreams 
that there will be a famine in Egypt. There 
will first be seven years of great plenty and 
then will come seven years of famine — noth- 
ing will grow. The king must find a wise man 
who will save food or else the people will 
starve when the famine comes. Food must be 
stored away by the king's officers during the 
first seven years. 

Pharaoh. Can we find a good man to do this! A 
man in whom the spirit of God is! Joseph, 
I appoint you to be the head officer to save 
the food and store it away. Every one must 
obey you. You are next to me. I have set 
you over all the land of Egypt. Here is my 



58 LIFE STORIES FROM OLD TESTAMENT 

ring for you to wear. Bring a gold chain and 
put it around Joseph's neck. Bring a chariot 
for Joseph to ride in. Bow to Joseph as he 
passes just as you do to me. He is ruler over 
all the land. 

To-morrow I will tell you how Joseph fed his 
brothers as well as the people in Egypt. Ask your 
fathers and mothers about Joseph. Perhaps some 
of you can read the 42nd, 43rd, 44th, and 45th 
chapters of Genesis and tell the rest of the story 
to me. 

Closing, Decide on title — *^ Bearing trouble 
bravely'' as the keynote of Joseph's success. 
Learn memory text. 



LESSON 9: BEING THRIFTY 

Story of Joseph Storing Food to Save the People of 
Egypt and His Own Family 

BIBLE readings: Genesls 41: 38-56. 

MEMORY text: Let every one lay by him in store as God 

hath prospered him. I. Corinthians 16:2. 
prayer: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those 

who trespass against us." Matthew 6: 12. 
pictures: Wilde, 571, 606, 372. Brown, 448m. 



INTEODUCTION 

How many of you have a savings bank? Why 
do you save! Have any of you heard of thrift 
stamps? There was a good man who thought 
children should be taught to save a little every 
week. He started a bank for the children in his 
school. Now many schools have Thrift Banks. 
Has yours? It is right to save when we have 
plenty because the time may come when we may 
need money for ourselves or for some one who is 
in trouble. 

Why are we saving all these pennies that so 
many of you are bringing every day? So that 
we can help children who have no Vacation Bible 
School to have one next year. We may also be 
able to send part of our savings to feed some 

59 



60 LIFE STORIES FROM OLD TESTAMENT 

children in China where there was a dreadful 
famine and many are still very poor. It is right 
to save for ourselves and it is right to save for 
others. What did Joseph advise Pharaoh to do? 
To save food. For seven years Joseph and the 
men he chose to help him made every one in Egypt 
save grain. Joseph had great store-houses built 
to pack the food away safely. There was plenty 
for seven years, much more than the people needed 
to eat. Joseph told them to bring one-fifth to him. 
If a farmer had ^ve bushels of wheat what was he 
to save? If a farmer had ten bushels of grain 
what was he to save? Some farmers may have 
said, ^'How does Joseph know there will be a 
famine? We don't want to save." Then Joseph 
said, *^You must obey, you must save or you will 
starve." 

When the seven years of plenty were over, and 
nothing would grow out of the ground, then what 
did Joseph do? He sold the food that he had 
saved back to the people. One day some strangers 
came from another country to buy corn. Who can 
tell us who they were ? 

Encourage the boys and girls to continue the 
story from this point, helping them as necessary to 
talk of: 

(a) The arrival of the ten brothers as the 

famine was in Canaan where Jacob lived as 
well as in Egypt. Genesis 42 : 3-7. 

(b) How Joseph recognized his brothers and un- 

derstood their language although they did 



BEING THRIFTY 61 

not speak like the Egyptians. Joseph had 
learned the Egyptian language, but he re- 
membered the language he spoke when he 
was a boy. Genesis 42 : 8-24. 

(c) Eeturn of the nine brothers with loaded 

sacks — ^why did Joseph keep Simeon! 
Verses 18-25. 

(d) Eeport of the nine to their father. Verses 

29-38. 

(e) The second journey with Benjamin. Genesis 

43:1-15. 

(f ) The feast at Joseph's house. Verses 16-34. 

(g) Finding the silver cup in Benjamin's sack, 

and the return. Genesis 44 : 1-13. 

(h) Judah's plea. Verses 14-34. (Train a boy to 

recite this plea. A great lawyer claims that 

it is one of the best pleas ever made.) 

(i) Joseph makes himself known. Genesis 45 : 1-15. 

(j) Brothers return with wagons and presents for 

their father, 
(k) The father cannot believe that Joseph is alive 
but when he sees the wagons and the pres- 
ents he says, ^*It is enough. Joseph my son 
is yet alive. I will go and see him before 
I die." Verses 16-28. 
(If the class is an advanced junior, consult the 
play of Joseph as given in Elizabeth Miller's 
^^Dramatization of Bible Stories," or select dia- 
logues to be read or spoken from the chapters 
42-45 as in previous lessons.) 



LESSON 10: REVIEW AND MISSIONARY 
STORY 

picture: Brown, 624m. 

To-day is review day. I want a boy and a girl 
to come to the blackboard and write quickly tbe 
names of all the brothers we have been talking 
about this week. I will divide the blackboard in 
two sections, one for the girl and one for the boy. 

"Watch and be ready to tell whether any name 
is left out, or if any name is not written correctly. 
I know some are hard to spell. Ready. Begin. 

After corrections the blackboard may stand 
thus: 

Jacob WTiat shall we put for the names of 

Esau the brothers whose names we have not 

Joseph learned? 

Benjamin (Teacher adds strokes.) 

Simeon Has any one ever found all the 

Reuben brothers' names? 
Judah Some day you will want to know 

1 them all. 

? Who will write the king's name? 

? His captain's name? 

r? Can you remember one more name ? 

? It is Jacob's new name. Jacob's 

^^? name was changed to Israel, and his 

sons are often called the twelve sons of Israel. 

62 



REVIEW AND MISSIONARY STORY 63 

Who will now tell us the story of Jacob and 
Esau! (It is sometimes desirable to appoint be- 
forehand those who are to tell the Bible stories 
on Eeview day, but there is also a pleasure in 
having the children speak on the spur of the mo- 
ment, letting the listeners supply omissions. Chil- 
dren condense usually. It is not necessary to re- 
view all details. Call in the same way for other 
stories, or have them dramatized. After each is 
told ask for the title and the memory verses. 
Drill on these if necessary. Ask a very few ques- 
tions on the first week to keep the connection, as, 
who was Jacob's father! Who was Isaac's 
father? Where did Abraham come from? Who 
was Eebekah? 

Some of you are studying Geography. I won- 
der if any of you can find our country on the 
globe or map of the world. Yes, here is America. 
Who can find Europe? What ocean do people 
cross to go to Europe? What people live in Eu- 
rope? What is this very big ocean on the other 
side of America? What is this big country on the 
other side of the Pacific Ocean? Yes, it is Asia. 
Asia is the country where Abraham, Isaac, Jacob 
and all his sons lived. Did you ever hear that 
there are more people in Asia now than here in 
America? 

STOEY OF BUNSI 

I am going to tell you a story about a little boy 
who lives in Asia now. His name is Bunsi. Bunsi 



64 LIFE STORIES FROM OLD TESTAMENT 

was very poor and very sick. His little body was 
covered with sores but lie bad to work very bard 
altbougb be was no older tban you. Bunsi was a 
little beatben boy wbo bad never beard about 
Jesus. He bad been taugbt to worsbip idols. 
Some friend of Jesus built a bospital near Bunsi 's 
borne. Bunsi beard tbat tbere was a doctor in tbe 
bospital wbo could cure bis sores. He walked into 
tbe bospital one day. He was so dirty and so 
covered witb dreadful sores tbat you would tbink 
tbat no one would toucb bim. But a kind lady 
missionary batbed bim and tbe missionary doctor 
bandaged bis sores. Tbey fed Bunsi too, better 
food tban be bad ever bad before, until be loved 
every one of bis new friends in tbe bospital. One 
morning as Bunsi was walking in tbe garden 
around tbe bospital, be said, ^^My heart sticks to 
this place.'* "Wbat did be mean! Yes, be loved 
every one in tbe bospital and wanted to stay tbere. 
Tbe missionary lady decided to give bim a new 
coat before be left tbe bospital. It was not a coat 
of many colors like Joseph's but it was tbe best 
coat Bunsi bad ever worn. Indeed be never bad 
bad any coat ! A soiled rag of a garment was all 
be bad wben be came to tbe bospital. A sewing- 
man came to make tbe coat and Bunsi sat and 
watcbed bim make tbe coat, bis face sbining witb 
happiness. Wben tbe coat was finished tbe sew- 
ing-man said, ' 'I have a bit of cloth left and if you 
can find a piece of lining for the back, I will make 
you a little vest. ' ' Bunsi was delighted, for in bis 



REVIEW AND MISSIONARY STORY 65 

country, boys think a vest is very fine. So the 
vest was made to go with the coat. 

On Sunday Bunsi was given his new coat and 
vest to wear to Sunday School. Very soon Bunsi 
appeared, his face full of smiles with his vest but- 
toned on the outside of his coat! You see he 
wanted every one to see he had a vest ! But vests 
go under coats, so Bunsi was sent back to change 
it. It was a cold morning but Bunsi did not button 
up his coat. Can you guess why? 

The missionary and the Sunday School teacher 
told Bunsi Bible stories just as I tell them to 
you. He had never heard about Jesus and how 
he had said, **Let little children come to me.'' He 
did not know about heaven, but now he knows he 
has a friend in heaven who will love him always. 
Bunsi got well and went back to work though he 
was only nine years old. The missionary and the 
doctor invited him to come back to see them. They 
did not want to let him go, but his older brother 
came and took him away to work, for they had 
a big family. Now shall we pray that Bunsi will 
never forget what he learned about Jesus? 

Dear Father, Bless little Bunsi who lives in 
Asia. We are glad the doctor cured his sores, 
just as Jesus made sick people well. We are glad 
the missionary gave him a new coat and taught 
him about Jesus. Make us willing to bring our 
pennies every day to send to the missionaries who 
will teach other little children about Jesus, and 
feed them if they are hungry. Amen. 



66 LIFE STORIES FROM OLD TESTAMENT 

Note. The story of Bunsi was given by the 
Women's Union Missionary Society, 67 Bible 
House, N. Y. C. 



PART II 

LIFE STORIES FROM THE NEW; 
TESTAMENT 



Third Week 

LESSON 11 : HOW DO WE KNOW ABOUT 
JESUS? 

Story of the Four Gospels 

MEMORY text: Many other signs did Jesus in the presence 
of the disciples which are not written in this book, 
but these are written that ye may believe that 
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that be- 
lieving, ye may have life in His name. John 20 : SO. 

picture: Wilde, 237. 

INTKODUCTION 

I HAVE four little books to show you to-day. 
Do any of you know how books are made? (Let 
volunteers tell all they know about printing. Ask 
if any have seen a big printing press or even a 
boy's printing press.) I have a little book that 
the boys in one of our public schools printed. 
Have you a printing press in your school? 

Have you ever heard what we call the person 
who tells the printer what to put in a book? Yes, 
the author. The author must first tJiink what to 
say and then write it down with a pen or pencil 
or on a typewriter before it can be made into a 
book. Did you ever notice stitches on the back 

69 



70 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

of a book? Who sews the pages of a book together 
so that the book will be strong and who puts the 
cover on? The book-binder. Indeed it takes much 
work to make a book. Do you take good care of 
your books ? A good book is a great treasure. 

A long time ago there were no printing presses 
and every book had to be written by hand. Now, 
a printing press prints hundreds of books in a day. 
When men had to copy books by hand, it some- 
times took a whole year before one book was fin- 
ished ! Then books were very expensive and there 
were very few. I have heard that one book might 
cost as much as a house ! Of course very few peo- 
ple could own a book. 

The men who copied books were called scribes. 
Sometimes the scribes used colored inks and fancy 
capital letters that made the books look beautiful. 
Who has seen such books in the Museum or in the 
Public Library? You must look for them some 
day when father or mother or your teacher takes 
you to the Museum. 

What are our books printed on? Once there 
was no paper in all the world. Do you know what 
was used then in making books? Men wrote on 
leaves and on the skins of animals, even on stones 
and on soft clay that grew hard. (Try to find a 
piece of parchment. See if any one can tell why 
it is more expensive than paper.) 

People did not always open books the way we 
do. Who knows how? They unrolled them like 



HOW DO WE KNOW ABOUT JESUS? 71 

this (unrolling a roll of wallpaper). This wall- 
paper would soon tear but parchment is very- 
strong and lasts many, many years. 



STORY 

The four little hooks I have brought to show 
you were at first written on rolls of parchment 
nearly two thousand years ago. Four of Jesus' 
friends wrote them to tell us all they could about 
Jesus. One of these friends of Jesus' knew him 
so well that he said if he wrote all he would like 
to tell us about Jesus, the world would hardly hold 
the books ! But books were much larger in those 
days than ours. There was no printing. 

I wonder if any one can write on our black- 
board the names of Jesus' friends who knew him 
so well and who wrote the story of his life so 
that we could read it. Here they are : 

Matthew 

Mark 

Luke 

John 

STORY 

To-day I am going to tell you about Matthew 
and the little book he wrote about Jesus. I hope 
to give Matthew's *' Story of Jesus" to all those 
who can read. None of you are old enough to read 



72 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

or to understand all of this book yet, but I am 
sure many of you can read the parts I have se- 
lected. 

"Who can remember how many disciples Jesus 
had! Was Matthew one of the twelve whom 
Jesus called to help him teach the people"? 

Do you remember who Peter and Andrew and 
James and John were? Fishermen. Matthew was 
not a fisherman. He was a man who had been 
chosen to collect money from his people for the 
king. Such a man was called a publican or tax- 
gatherer. Do you know that we have to pay 
taxes, too, in our country! Why! To help take 
care of it. We must all be willing to help take 
care of our country, for our country takes care of 
us. How! 

Some of the publicans were bad men and took 
too much money away from the people, and did 
not give it all to the king. They were not honest. 
But Jesus saw that Matthew was an honest man. 
Jesus said, ' ' Matthew, leave that work, and come 
and help me teach the people about God." Mat- 
thew left all and followed Jesus. Then Matthew 
invited Jesus to come into his house. He invited 
his friends to meet Jesus and to eat with him. 
(See Matthew 9:9.) Matthew made a great feast 
for Jesus and invited many other publicans so 
that they too would know Jesus. 

If these four friends of Jesus had not written 
the story of Jesus' life, we might never have 
known all the wonderful things that Jesus did. 



HOW DO WE KNOW ABOUT JESUS? 73 

nor how he loved children, and would not let even 
his disciples send them away. 

At first Matthew talked to people abont Jesus, 
but after Jesus had gone to heaven, Matthew 
thought of writing this book. And here it is. 

To-night I want you all to look up at the sky 
to see how many bright stars you can count. I 
am sure none of you have forgotten about the 
brother and sister who went to the window to say, 
^'Good night, little star." 

There are a number of children who were not 
here when I told that story. Who will be ready 
to tell it to-morrow to them? Who has heard the 
story of the Christmas star 1 It was Matthew who 
wrote that story in his little book. I shall ask 
some one to tell it to us to-morrow. Do any of 
your school books have chapters! The story of 
the Christmas star is in the second chapter of 
Matthew. Ask mother to help you find it and let 
you read it to her, and be ready to tell it to- 
morrow. 

Closing. Decide on title and learn the text. 
Have all find the Old and the New Testament with 
Bibles in hand. If children are mature for their 
age, ask them to find and read the title pages of 
the Old and the New Testament. 

Explain difficult words. What does the word 
testament mean! Find the books of the gospels. 
Who wrote them! Why are they called gospels? 
Why are they sometimes printed separately! 

Do you know how many of these separate books 



74 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

there are in our Bible ? The Bible is like a library- 
It has sixty-six books in it. 

"Where are the names of the books in this li- 
brary? Let children who know show those who 
do not. A teacher once asked her class to think 
of a good way to learn the names of all those 
books. See if any of this class can think of a 
way. Tell me to-morrow. 



LESSON 12: WATCHING THE SKY 

Story of the Star of Bethlehem 

BIBLE readings: Matthcw 2: 1-12, 21-23. 

MEMORY text: And when they saw the star they rejoiced 
with exceeding great joy. And they came into the 
house and saw the young child with Mary his 
mother ; and they fell down and worshiped him ; and 
opening their treasures, they offered unto him gifts, 
gold and frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 
2:11-12. 

pictures: Wilde, 590, 20. Brown, 5S9m., 

INTRODUCTION" 

Who is ready to tell the story of the brother 
and sister who watched every night for their star! 
(Retell it if the child does not relate it feelingly. 
It will probably be best to call upon a girl.) 

A man named Charles Dickens wrote the story 
of this brother and sister. There are many more 
stories of his that I hope you will read some day. 
How many of you go to the library to get books 
and to look at pictures? 

A boy once built a little house for his sister 
up in a tree. He carried her up to the house by a 
ladder one night while she was asleep. When she 
woke up, she could see the stars shining through, 
the leaves of the tree. She thought she was in 
fairyland. 

75 



76 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

STOEY 

Long, long ago, far away in the East, there were 
many wise men who loved to watch God's sky. 
They thought God sent messages to them by the 
stars. They watched the stars every night. They 
saw very, very tiny stars and others larger and 
very, very bright. Some stars seemed to stand 
still. Some shot through the sky ! Have you ever 
seen a shooting star? 

These wise men saw that some stars seem to 
make pictures in the sky. One picture was of a 
mighty hunter. They thought they could see his 
belt with three bright stars in it. They thought 
he was drawing his bow to shoot an arrow. They 
called the hunter 's name ' ^ Orion. ' ' Even now you 
can find Orion in the sky. (Draw the constella- 
tion.) They thought they saw a *^Big Bear'' and 
a ^* Little Bear," and many other pictures. 

You cannot see many stars if you live in narrow 
streets, but if you go to the corner of a street, you 
can see more, and if you go to any large open 
place, like a park, you may see hundreds and hun- 
dreds. Perhaps father will take you up on the 
roof to see the stars, but you must not go alone or 
without permission. Some nights the stars are 
much brighter than others. I hope you love to 
watch the sky and to read about it, too. 

There is a beautiful story in Matthew about the 
* * Star of Bethlehem. ' ' Now who is ready to tell 
us Matthew's story of the star of Bethlehem? Did 



WATCHING THE SKY 77 

your mother read the story to you? Who wrote 
this story for us! 

The story is told so often at Christmas that it 
is quite probable that at this age several children 
will volunteer to tell it. If the story is not well 
told, tell it yourself or read it for the sake of 
those to whom it may be new. If the class is large 
secure a large picture of the three wise men on 
camels, or if the class is small pass a smaller pic- 
ture, or, better, give one to each child. 

Select six children to read verses 1, 2, 9, 10, 11, 
12. Let them stand facing the school. Have the 
class repeat verses 2, 10 and 11, and ask the older 
members to memorize at home the six verses that 
were read. Be sure to give an opportunity to 
recite the verses next day. 

The story of the wicked King Herod may be 
told to children of this age. It may be told or 
read and then reviewed by questions, as. Where 
was Jesus born! What large city was near Beth- 
lehem! Who was King in Jerusalem! (If chil- 
dren know what a map is, place Bethlehem and 
Jerusalem and indicate the East — the Orient.) 
Write this hymn on the blackboard : 

"We three Kings of Orient are, 
Bearing gifts we traverse afar. 
Field and fountain, moor and mountain. 
Following yonder star." 

We cannot see the fields and the hills and moun- 



78 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

tains, on the map. Perhaps some one can make 
them on the sand-table. 

These wise men may have been kings. The song 
calls them kings. What does Matthew call them? 
Where had they seen the star? Some people think 
these men traveled many days, perhaps months, 
before they reached Jerusalem. Camels do not 
travel as rapidly as our cars. What did they ask 
when they reached Jerusalem? Was not that a 
strange question to ask about a baby? The people 
in Jerusalem were Jews. They did not like Herod. 
He was appointed from another country. The 
Jewish people wanted a king of their own. Per- 
haps these wise men knew that the Jews wanted 
another king. Did Herod want a baby boy to 
grow up to take his place? No, indeed. What 
cruel thought came to Herod? Did the wise men 
go back to tell Herod that they had found the baby 
Jesus? Why not? Then what did Herod do? 
Bead vs. 16-18. What a wicked, cruel king ! No 
wonder that the people in Jerusalem did not want 
him to be their king ! 

What does Matthew tell us in his story about the 
mothers? (read verse 18). We have not spoken 
about the beautiful gifts that the wise men 
brought. What were they? Gold, frankincense 
and myrrh. It was like bringing sweet-smelling 
flowers to Mary and the baby Jesus. They were 
beautiful gifts. Now I will ask our singing 
teacher to sing a verse of the hymn to you, and 
to teach you the chorus: 



WATCHING THE SKY 79 

"O star of wonder^ star of night. 
Star with royal beauty bright. 
Westward leading, still proceeding, 
Guide us to thy perfect light." 

I learned this hymn in school when I was abont 
your age and I have never forgotten it. I hope 
you will love to sing it as long as you live. (See 
also ^^0 Little Town of Bethlehem/' p. 24, in the 
D. V. B. S. Manual of Hymns and Songs.) 

Closing. Name this lesson and learn the text. 
"Who wrote this story? Ask if any one has found 
a way to learn the names of the sixty-six books. 



LESSON 13: THE HOME OF A CARPENTER 

Story "Egypt to Nazareth" 

BIBLE readings: Matthew 2: 14-16. Luke 2: 40-56. 
MEMORY text: Honor thy father and thy mother. Exodus 

20:12. 

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature^ and 

in favor with God and man. Luke 2: 52. 
pictures: Wilde, 31, 397, 182. Brown, 557m, 547m, 551m, 

561m. 

INTKODUCTION" 

"Who remembers what was written on each 
registration card the first day of our school? 
What else besides yonr name? Why did your 
teachers want to know where you live? Because 
they want to come to see you in your home. We 
are interested in your homes, even though we do 
not find time to call. Who can tell me why home 
is a very important place? (Listen attentively to 
the children's answers. Add to them.) I know 
a song about home. Shall I sing it for you? 

"There is beauty all around 
When there's love at home. 
There is joy in every sound 
When there's love at home. 
80 



THE HOME OF A CARPENTER 81 

Sweeter flows the brooklet by, 
Brighter beams the azure sky, 
Oh, there's One who smiles on high 
When there's love at home." 



Who is the One on high who smiles when every- 
one at home is loving and kind 1 Some of ns may 
not have a pretty, little babbling brook running 
near our house, but all of us can see the lovely blue 
sky. Don't you think it would be a good plan to 
run out or go to the window to ^4ook up'' at the 
blue sky when you don't feel very loving and 
pleasant? Perhaps some one at home may be 
cross, and you feel cross too, but isn't it better to 
have one cross than two? I am sorry that all 
homes are not as pleasant, or as clean, or as lov- 
ing as the one I sang about. 

Once there was a home that was very, very 
dirty. One day a white cat walked in. She looked 
around as if she wanted to find a clean spot to lie 
down. Some one mopped up the floor for pussy^ 
for every one of the family wanted to keep her, 
"When the floor was clean, some one said, *^ Let's 
wash the windows." Soon the whole room was. 
clean ! Then every one in the family felt happier 
and the cat stayed and became a great pet. 

You must tell me, if I come to see you, how yon 
help in your home. One thing you can all do, that 
is, picTc up anything that is on the floor and put if 
in its right place. Mother has so much to do that 
I think boys and girls ought to ^^pick up," don't 



•82 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

you? I notice that some of you pick up scraps 
here after the sewing and other work is over. It 
always pleases me to see you do so. 



STOEY 

To-day our lesson is about Jesus' home in Naza- 
reth. (Picture 182.) Look at this picture. What 
does it tell you about Nazareth? Nazareth was a 
country village among the hills. This picture 
shows it. Is Nazareth there now? Yes, and the 
houses are much the same as the one Jesus lived 
in. Nazareth was far away from Jerusalem and 
Bethlehem, where the wicked King Herod lived. 
Where did Joseph and Mary take the Baby Jesus 
to save his life? Who has read what Matthew 
wrote about their hurried journey to Egypt? 
(Picture, Wilde, 397.) 

How many of you are studying Geography in 
school? Will you try to find Egypt where Joseph 
and Mary took their baby? I think it was in 
Egypt that Jesus learned to walk and to talk. 
(Eefer to baby brothers and sisters.) When did 
Joseph, Mary and Jesus leave Egypt? Perhaps 
some one will bring a map and show how far they 
traveled and whether they went north or south. 
WTiich is the north side of this room? The south? 
{Call out a large boy and girl, and the smallest 
child. Let them walk hurriedly away towards the 
south side of the room and remain there while 
some one reads verses 21-23. As the latter part 



THE HOME OF A CARPENTER 83 

is read, ask the children who represent the little 
family to return walking northwards as if to 
Nazareth. This simple dramatic action is in- 
tended not so much to teach geography as it is 
to impress the story of the journey, and to attract 
children who may have grown restless.) 

Matthew does not tell us very much about Jesus' 
home in Nazareth. Perhaps he never saw it, but 
in the 13th chapter of Matthew's book, he tells 
us the names of Jesus' brothers and sisters, and 
tells us that the people called Jesus, the carpen- 
ter's son, so that we know that Joseph was a 
carpenter. 

An artist who loved to paint pictures of JesuB 
made this one (Wilde, 31) of a carpenter's- 
house in Nazareth. See, the room is small and 
crowded. Joseph and Mary are both working. 
What are they doing? What is their little son 
doing? This carpenter's house was a busy place. 
Shall we try to build a home like the one in Naza- 
reth with our carpenter's tools? One strange 
thing is that the stairs were on the outside. They 
led up to the roof. The roof was flat. In hot 
weather the family slept on the roof. 

Mary, the mother, often took Jesus and his 
brothers and sisters up on the roof in the even- 
ing. She prayed with them, sang psalms, and 
talked to them about God. She told them the same 
Bible stories that I have told you — about Abra- 
ham and Isaac, about Jacob and Joseph and many 
more. She taught them the ten commandments. 



84 LIFE STORIES FEOM NEW TESTAMENT 

JesTis and his brothers and sisters knew the 23rd 
Psahn just as we do and many more Psalms. 

As Jesus grew older he became more and more 
interested in the Bible and asked Joseph and 
Mary many questions about it. I think I told you 
that I like boys and girls to ask questions. Have 
you any to ask to-day! (If children ask ques- 
tions that you cannot answer, do not hesitate to 
say,^*I do not know. If I can find out I will tell 
you. Let us all think about that question.'') 

Closing, As usual, develop title and memorize 
texts. Ask the music teacher a day or two before 
this lesson to be ready to teach a home song. If 
the Southern songs in the Manual * are used, 
tell the story of Booker T. Washington's home 
when he was a little boy in the South, how he be- 
came free and how he helped make schools for 
other colored children. Speak of the time when 
men were allowed to sell colored children and how 
sad they were when they were taken from their 
homes. There are no slaves in our country now. 
"Who set them free? I read the other day of a 
country in Africa, quite near Egypt, where even 
now there are slaves. We must try to send mis- 
sionaries to teach those people. 

* "Manual of Hymns, Songs and Marclies," p. 38-40. 



LESSON 14: HAVING EARS TO HEAR 

Story of the Message of John the Baptist 

BIBLE readings: Matthcw 3:1-17. 

MEMORY text: Hc that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 

Matthew 11: 15. 
pictures: Wilde^ 43 and 313, also a Map of Palestine. 

Brown, 188m, 560m. 

INTEODUCTION 

Ask whether a map showing Egypt has been 
brought by any boy or girl as requested. Show 
interest in any one who has succeeded in finding 
Egypt. Outline Palestine on the blackboard or 
on paper, or secure printed outline maps to give 
to the older children. Locate Bethlehem, Jeru- 
salem, Nazareth and the "Wilderness of Judea. 
Tell of the wild beasts. Let children name them. 
(Mark 1:13.) Show a picture of a man who 
lived in this wilderness. His name was John. 
Let a child read how John dressed and what he 
ate. (Matt. 3:4-5.) 

STORY 

Our lesson to-day is about this man who lived 
in the wilderness of Judea. First I will tell you 
about John when he was a boy. John was Jesus' 

85 



86 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

cousin. The two boys went to tlie same school 
at Nazareth. It was in the synagogue. The 
school was only for Jewish boys. The synagogue 
was like a church where the people went every 
Sabbath Day to worship God. During the week 
the Eabbi taught the boys Hebrew so that they 
could learn to read the Old Testament. The Old 
Testament was written in Hebrew. Find the Old 
Testament in this Bible. Show me the New. 

There was no New Testament when Jesus and 
John were boys. Think why there could not have 
been. The Old Testament has many parts (39). 
Each part is called a Book. Long ago each book 
^as separate, not joined with others as they are 
in our Bible. How did people make books long 
ago? What were they called? What were the 
men called who copied them? I am glad you re- 
member about the scrolls. 

The Eabbi or teacher had many scrolls but 
there were none in the homes of Nazareth. Why 
not? 

The Eabbi read the scrolls to the people on the 
Sabbath Day. One of the scrolls was called *^The 
IBook of Isaiah." This book interested John and 
Jesus very much when they read it in school, 
though it was hard to understand. One day they 
read to the teacher in Hebrew from the 40th chap- 
ter of the Book of Isaiah. I will let our John read 
the very same words in English in our Bible, that 
John read that day in Hebrew. (Eeads Isaiah 
40:3-5.) 



HAVING EARS TO HEAR 87 

John and Jesus were about as old as our oldest 
boys, but they did not know just what those 
strange words meant. What do you think they 
mean? John asked the teacher to explain what 
Isaiah meant. The teacher told the boys that 
Isaiah meant that some day God would send a 
man to preach in the wilderness to help the people 
understand better how to be good, so that all na- 
tions would learn about God. 

When the teacher said that a man would preach 
out in the wilderness, one of the boys asked, 
* ' What wilderness 1 ' ' 

^^ Perhaps," said the teacher, ^Hhe wilderness of 
Judea, right here in our country. ' ' 

^' There are wild beasts in the wilderness," said 
Jesus. 

John said, **I would not be afraid to preach in 
the wilderness if God sent me." 

^ * Neither would I, ' ' said Jesus. 

The boys were very earnest about it. 

The teacher said, ^^Boys, perhaps God will 
choose you to be the ones to take his message to 
the people ! Pray to God every day and study the 
scriptures, so that you will hear if he calls you, 
just as the boy, Samuel, heard." 

When John grew to be a man he was sure God 
wanted him to give this message written in Isaiah 
to the people. John left home, telling his friends 
that he was going to live out in the wilderness; 
that he must use his *^ voice" to call the people 
and tell them God's messages. Perhaps some 



88 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

friends tried to keep John from going and spoke 
of the wild beasts. But John said, ' ' God calls me. 
I must go." 

"What did Matthew write in this little book about 
John! (Eead vs. 4-5 again and show the picture 
of John.) 

Did the people listen to John? (Read v. 6.) 

What does ''Confessing their sins" mean! Is 
it hard to confess when you have done wrong! 
(Give instances or draw them from the class.) 
Why does God want us to confess when we have 
done wrong? It helps us not to do wrong again. 
(I. John 1:9.) 

John told the people it was right to confess and 
to be baptized. He told them that after they went 
home they must do right. 

Some of the people who came to hear John were 
very proud of Abraham. They called Abraham, 
''Father Abraham." John knew this. He said, 
"It will not do to think you are safe because you 
say 'Father Abraham.' You must leave off doing 
mean things and do right yourselves if you want 
to be God's children. You must not cheat or steal 
or lie, and you must be kind to your neighbors." 

Then John told the people that God would send 
soon another teacher to help them. John was a 
modest man. He was not proud. He told the 
people that he was not worthy to unloose the 
shoes of this great teacher who was coming some 
day. 

Can you think to whom John referred! Yes, 



HAVING EARS TO HEAR 89 

he meant that Jesus was coming. Bead Matthew 
3 : 13-17, or tell the story of Jesus' Baptism in the 
River Jordan. 
Closing. Title. Memory Text. 



LESSON 15: RE\1EW 

pictures: Wilde^ 109. Brown^ 21 6m. 

Last Friday I told you about little Bunsi, and 
his coat. Did I tell you where he lived! Bunsi 
lived in India. The missionaries who loved him 
and cured his dreadful sores were doctors. Some 
missionaries are teachers. In Bunsi 's country 
they did not have doctors and nurses to take care 
of such poor little children until missionary doc- 
tors were sent to build hospitals for them. "What 
is a hospital? (Tell about the Free Hospitals in 
our country where any child may go.) 

STOEY 

To-day I will tell you a story about a poor little 
girl who lived in India. Her name was Befutti. 

Befutti's mother was dead. She was ten years 
old but had never had a doll. Befutti went to a 
missionary's school to learn to read. One day the 
missionary promised to give her a doll if she knew 
her lessons well at the end of the week. But Be- 
futti had to work so hard that she could not study 
very well. She missed so many words in spelling 
that the teacher said she would keep the doll an- 
other week. Befutti was disappointed, but she 

90 



REVIEW 91 

was a brave little girl and promised to try hard 
another week. She smiled when the teacher 
showed her the doll and told her that she should 
have another chance. But the next day little Be- 
futti was absent. Her cousin brought word that 
Befutti had fallen in the street sick of a fever. 
The teacher went quickly to see her. She found 
her lying on the floor of a poor little house. All 
Befutti could speak about was school and the doll. 
She was so sorry that she could not study. She 
thought she would not mind the fever if she had 
her doll. So, of course, the teacher got the doll 
and took it to Befutti. This satisfied her little 
heart completely, and from the moment she re- 
ceived it the doll was never out of her arms. 

Befutti told the teacher she had never forgotten 
*^How God so loved the world.'' She said, *^I 
pray very much and I do love Jesus." 

Befutti was too sick to get well. One day she 
told the teacher that she had dreamed of going to 
a cool garden, filled with beautiful flowers and all 
the people looked happy. Then Befutti said with 
a smile, ^ ' That is the place I am going to soon. I 
am not afraid to die." When Befutti died her 
arms were still about her doll, pressing it close to 
her. 

Where do you think the missionary teacher got 
that doll to give to Befutti? Why, some children 
here in our country had sent her a box of dolls 
that they had dressed themselves ! 

Those words that comforted Befutti are 



92 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

written in one of the four little books I showed 
you. Shall we learn them to-day! '' God so loved 
the world/' No one taught Befutti that God 
loves us until she went to the missionary's school. 
In India, where she lived, so many of the people 
are afraid of their gods. They have many gods. 
They have big, ugly-looking images that they 
worship. (Show a picture of an idol.) We call 
their gods idols. They are like dolls. (Eead Ps. 
115:4-7.) When any one is sick these people 
often beat drums and sometimes beat the house to 
drive the sickness away. They do not know any 
better. We must send word to all such people 
about our Father in heaven. Don't you want some 
one to tell them about Jesus, too, and ask them to 
read Matthew's story about him? Let us see 
now if we remember all the verses we have learned 
this week out of this little book of Matthew. It 
is called ^^The Gospel of Matthew." What does 
Gospel mean 1 Gospel means ' ' Good News. ' ' 

*'Good news for little children^ 
Wherever they may be. 
To them, the Lo\ang Savior, 
Has said, 'Come unto me.' " 

* ^ Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid 
them not." 

Closing. Eeview pictures, titles and texts of 
the week. 



Fourth Week 

LESSON 16: TEMPTATIONS 

Story of Jesus in the Wilderness, Forty Days and 
Forty Nights 

BIBLE readings: Matthcw 4: 1-11. 

MEMORY text: Lead us not into temptation but deliver us 

from evil. Matthew 5: IS. 
picture: Wilde^ 208. 

INTKODUCTION 

Every morning when we repeat the Lord's 
Prayer together, I hear you say these words that 
I have written on the blackboard. I want you to 
read them silently now. Close your eyes and 
think quietly what this prayer means. 

To-day is Monday. You have been away for 
two days. Think whether any one has asked you 
to do something you know to be wrong since Fri- 
day. I shall not ask you to tell me whether you 
did it. You may tell me after school if you want 
to. Think just for yourself, then I will tell you a 
story I heard about a boy who does not come to 
our school. (Try to make this silent exercise 
impressive.) You have had long enough to think. 
Let us read again this prayer. Then I will tell 

93 



94 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

yon the story of a boy's temptation and a girPs 
temptation to do wrong. 

George asked his mother if he conld go to the 
movies on Sunday. His mother said, ^^No, my 
son, not on Sunday." George had promised a 
friend to go with him before he asked his mother's 
permission. He wanted to go very much and he 
did not like to tell his friend that he could not go. 
He was tempted to go even though he knew it 
was wrong to disobey. It was a real temptation. 
If George had taken time to think of our prayer, 
*^Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from 
evil,'' I think he might have been strong enough 
to say, ^^No, I cannot go," but I am sorry to tell 
you that he did go to the movies. 

When supper time came George was not home. 
'*Why, where is George?" asked his father. His 
sister said, ^^He has gone to the movies. He told 
me that mother said he could go !" ''Why, Julia, 
I said he could not go." Not until seven o'clock 
did George get home. Supper was over. His 
father met him at the door. Do you think George 
looked up, or down? Yes, he hung his head, very 
much ashamed. 

His father punished him severely, and every 
one in the house was very unhappy all the even- 
ing. His mother talked with George when he went 
to bed that night about a strong young man who 
was tempted to do wrong, but he said bravely, 
''How can I do this evil and sin against God?" 
I wonder if any of you know who it was? It was 



TEMPTATIONS 95 

Joseph. Do you remember our lessons about Jo- 
seph? Shall we learn the answer Joseph made to 
the tempter? Who is a tempter? Any one who 
asks us to do wrong. 

I will tell you about a girl who was tempted by 
herseK to do wrong. 

Mary had a pet canary bird. It sang very 
sweetly. Mary loved her bird and for a long time 
she took good care of it, then she grew careless 
about feeding it. Sometimes the dear little bird 
had no water to drink all day. Her mother told 
her several times that she would give the bird 
away if she could not take care of it. One day 
Mary's mother gave her two lumps of sugar, say- 
ing, *'One for you, Mary, and one for birdie.'' 
Now Mary loved sugar so much that she was 
tempted to eat both lumps ! You see, Mary's own 
selfishness and carelessness were her tempters. 
Mary did eat both lumps of sugar! Then Mary 
was in a hurry to go out to play. She did not 
even give the birdie water and seeds. The next 
morning when she went to the cage, the dear little 
bird was dead. Mary cried and cried, and said, 
**0h, Mother, I was so selfish that I ate both 
lumps of sugar. I am sure that I will never be 
so mean and selfish again." 

The teacher should gather incidents appropriate 
to the ages of the children, telling them in similar 
fashion. Doing one wrong often tempts a child 
to do another. Another incident might be of a 
girl who was sent for medicine and, meeting a 



96 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

playmate, did not hasten home. Cheating in 
games is another frequent temptation that comes 
to both boys and girls. 



STOEY 

Last week you read in Matthew's book about the 
baptism of Jesus. To-day I will tell you of a 
strange thing that happened soon after Jesus' 
baptism. Do you remember about the wilder- 
ness of Judea? "What do you remember about it? 
What did John and Jesus say about it when they 
were boys in the school at Nazareth? The time 
had come for Jesus to show that he was not afraid 
to go into the wilderness. Jesus stayed out in 
the wilderness forty days and forty nights think- 
ing and praying what he could do to help the peo- 
ple to love God and to do right. 

Jesus did not think of eating all that time ! But 
after forty days, he began to feel very hungry. A 
tempter came to Jesus while he was hungry and 
tried three times to get Jesus to do something 
wrong. The tempter tried to make Jesus think 
that they were very nice things to do. Every time 
Jesus said, *'No." He did not listen to the 
tempter a second! He said, ^^Go away." That is 
what I want you boys and girls to say when you 
are tempted to do the least thing that you know 
to be wrong, even if you want to do it very much. 
(The teacher must decide whether it is desirable 
to read the temptations of Jesus. They were of 



TEMPTATIONS 97 

a spiritual nature very difficult to explain to chil- 
dren. But the subject of temptation as it bears on 
child life is too important to omit.) 



PBAYEB 

Our Father, We pray thee to help us say * * No " 
as quickly as Jesus did if any one tempts us to do 
wrong. Lead us not into temptation but deliver 
us from evil. Amen. 

By using one petition of the Lord's Prayer, 
by itself, as above, the meaning grows clearer. 
It is unfortunate to repeat the Lord's Prayer 
without thought of its meaning in our own 
life. 

In connection with this lesson, Psalm 1 : 1 may 
be taught, or reviewed, if already known. 



LESSON 17: CARING FOR THE SICK 

Story of Jesus Teaching and Healing the Sick 

BIBLE readings: Matthcw 4: 12-25. 

MEMORY text: And Jesus went about all Galilee, teach- 
ing in their synagogues and preaching the good 
news of the kingdom and healing all manner of 
sickness among the people. Matthew 4: 23. 

pictures: Wilde, 47-70, 71, 76, 680. Brown, 195m, 208m, 
578m, 193m. 

Do yon remember how the missionary doctor 
and the missionary nnrse took care of little 
Bnnsi? and of Befntti! 

STOKY 

To-day Matthew's story tells ns how Jesns 
cared for sick people. These missionaries who 
help the sick are trying to be like Jesus. I have 
many pictures to show you of Jesus as he went 
about from city to city, and from village to vil- 
lage, teaching the people about God, and ^ ^healing 
all manner of sickness." One man was so sick 
that no one would go near him for fear they would 
get his sickness. He was a leper. But Jesus was 
not afraid to touch him. 

Matthew says that great crowds of people f ol- 



CARING FOR THE SICK 99* 

lowed Jesus. They even carried sick people out 
into the streets for Jesus to heal. Jesus preached 
to all who came to him. 

On the Sabbath day Jesus went into the syna- 
gogues and read to the people out of the Bible. 
Jesus told the people just as John the Baptist did, 
that God had sent him with good news. He told 
them that they must repent and stop doing wrong, 
then God would forgive them. 

Jesus was so busy traveling all about the coun- 
try that he wanted some helpers. John the Bap- 
tist could not help any more for a very sad thing 
had happened. John was not in the wilderness. 
He was in prison. Another wicked Herod like the 
one who killed the children had put John in prison. 
John was so brave that he had told even Herod 
that he had done wrong and should repent. Herod 
was angry and sent his soldiers to find John and 
shut him up in prison so that he could not preach. 
When Jesus heard that John was in prison, he 
called another John to help him. This John had 
a brother named James. John and James were 
both fishermen. 

One day as Jesus was walking by the sea of 
Galilee, he saw both James and John in the boat 
with their father Zebedee. They were all mend- 
ing nets. Sometimes fishes are caught in big nets 
something like our hammocks. When the fishes 
are caught they try to get out and often they make 
holes in the nets. Then the nets must be mended. 

Jesus saw two other brothers named Peter and 



100 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

Andrew by the sea. Tkey were not mending their 
nets. They were casting a net into the sea to 
catch fish. 

Jesus called to these four men to come and help 
him teach the people. Jesus said, ^^Come and I 
will make you fishers of men.'' What did Jesus 
mean? 

The men left their nets right away and fol- 
lowed Jesus. They were not even tempted to 
refuse. You know they might have said, ^^We 
are too busy. We must catch fish.*' They might 
have had excuses as children do sometimes when 
mother asks them to help. These four men be- 
lieved that Grod had sent Jesus and they were glad 
to help him. They thought it was better than fish- 
ing. They knew many others could attend to the 
nets. (It will be of interest to select four boys 
to stand at the front holding a hammock stretched 
open as many city children have never seen a net, 
while a girl reads from the little book, Matthew 
4:18-22.) 

Matthew tells us the names of a number of 
places Jesus visited. Shall we put them on our 
map? Eead verses 23-25. If there is no map 
and no one to draw, it will help to have a child 
stand for each place. What is meant by ^'beyond 
Jordan''? Bepresent the Jordan and the Sea of 
Galilee on the sand-table, if there happens to be 
one; place small blocks for the cities mentioned. 
The floor may also be used, the children standing 
so as to make the outline of Palestine. Possibly 



CARING FOR THE SICK 101 

a boy will venture to draw on the floor the Sea of 
Galilee and the Jordan. A rope may be used to 
indicate the river and sea. Locate a few places 
on the floor with blocks or white flags, having a 
name of a city written on each flag. 

Closing. Find a name for the lesson. Learn 
the text. Eeview ^*all Galilee.'' Examine pic- 
tures. What can a child do for a sick person? 
Send flowers or a picture card? Eead a story to 
him? Tell him about Jesus' message? Keep 
quiet ? Go quickly for the doctor or for medicine ? 
Lead children to give these answers or suggest 
them. If any are anxious to relate incidents from 
their own experience, let them do so. Jesus gave 
much time to the sick. 



LESSON 18: EIGHT WAYS TO BE BLESSED 

Story of the Sermon on the Mount 

BIBLE readings: Matthcw 5: 1-10. 

MEMORY TEXT : Verscs 1, S, 9, if not all the Beatitudes. 
pictures: Wilde^ 64, 466, 108, 7l6. Brown, 585m, 6l3m, 
197m. 

INTKODUCTION' 

How many of you have heard any one talk to a 
crowd of people in the street? I have noticed that 
those who talk to crowds in the street are very 
earnest. Jesns often talked to crowds in the 
street bnt when he saw a great crowd gathering, 
he sometimes went ont into the country. The 
multitudes often followed him. But one day 
Jesus wanted to talk to John and James, to Peter 
and Andrew, to Matthew and to seven more men 
whom he had called to help him teach the people. 
Have any of you heard the names of the other 
seven? I will write them on the blackboard in 
groups. 

Peter James • Philip 

Andrew John Bartholomew 

Matthew James Simon 
Thomas Lebbeus 

102 



EIGHT WAYS TO BE BLESSED 103 

Eleven boys may be chosen to stand in groups, 
each one taking a name. Explain why you do not 
let a boy stand for Judas. 

After Jesus had chosen these twelve men to 
help him teach the people, he often talked to them, 
so that they would know what to teach the people. 

STOEY 

One day, as I said, Jesus had a very important 
lesson to teach to his twelve disciples. He wanted 
to be alone with them. He took them out into the 
country and found a quiet place on the side of a 
mountain where he would not be disturbed. 

Matthew, the man who wrote this little book for 
us, was there and afterwards he wrote all that he 
remembered of that lesson and other lessons. It 
would have been pleasant for us to sit with Jesus 
on a mountain, but isn^t it good that Matthew 
wrote down what Jesus said? Yesterday I ap- 
pointed eight girls who will read to us from their 
little books what Jesus said to his disciples. They 
have practised at home and can recite the words, 
too. 

I think the disciples asked questions. After 
these eight girls read, you may want to ask ques- 
tions. (Each girl wears a card with one sugges- 
tive word upon it, written or printed so that it 
can be read by the school or class. These will aid 
the memory.) One at a time a girl steps to the 
front and reads a verse, then closes the book and 



104. LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

repeats it. After thus hearing a verse twice, the 
school repeats it. The cards should bear these 
words : 



poor in spirit 



mourn 



meek 



hunger 



merciful 



pure 



peace-makers persecuted 



(Moulton states that the first Beatitude is a gen- 
eral heading for those that follow. The above 
arrangement helps in conveying this thought.) 
This is quite a hard lesson to learn all at once, 
but if you learn these *'Blesseds'^ or Beatitudes, 
as they are called, you will understand them better 
and better as long as you live. 

Have you any questions to ask? Which is the 
easiest one to remember? Which one do you like 
best? Some one will doubtless choose *^ Blessed 
are the peace-makers. '^ Eefer to the story of 
Abraham and Lot and the text, ^*Let there be no 
strife.'' Abraham was called a son of God, and 
he was called **the friend of God.'' Wasn't that 
a blessing? Do we want peace or war in our coun- 
try? How many have heard that our President 
invited many wise men to come to Washington 
to try to stop people from fighting? Why do we 
have to have so many policemen? If people all 



EIGHT WAYS TO BE BLESSED 105 

loved peace, we should all be much happier. 
Jesus told his disciples to teach the people to be 
peace-makers, and to tell them that peace-makers 
shall be called the children of God. 

Will you begin right here in this school to be 
a peace-maker? If you find any two children 
quarreling, remind them of the lesson Jesus 
taught his disciples that day on the mountain. 
Every American should be a peace-maker. 

By appropriate illustrations from child-life and 
from the Bible, strive gradually to put meaning 
into these memorable words. They will be as seed 
planted, we hope, in good ground that will bring 
forth fruit in the lives of the boys and girls later 
on. It is not possible to explain them fully in 
one lesson. 

Closing, Name the lesson. Brill the Beati- 
tudes so that they may be recited at the opening 
of the school every day for a week. Possibly there 
will be time to illustrate one each day more fully 
than can be done in this lesson. The story of the 
Good Samaritan illustrates the merciful man, the 
parable of the publican what it is to be poor in 
spirit, that is not proud like the Pharisee. Show 
picture. Moses is called the meekest man. Why? 
See Exodus 3 : 11 and 4 : 10. 



LESSON 19: THE GOLDEN RULE 

Story of Jesus' Rule of Love 

BIBLE readings: Matthew 5: 43-48. 

MEMORY text: Whatsoever you would that men should do 

to you, do you even so to them. Matthew 7:12. 
pictures: Wilde, 480, 466, 100. Brown, 620m. 

INTEODUCTIOIT 

Show a yardstick or a foot rule and other meas- 
ures if convenient. What are measures for? 
How is it that all our yard measures are exactly 
a yard long? Speak of a quart measure and a 
pound weight in a similar way. Did you know 
that there are standard measures kept very safe 
at Washington? Explain standard. Do you know 
that there are men appointed by our government 
to go about to see that storekeepers have correct 
measures just like the standard at Washington? 
(Read Deut. 25 : 15.) This was the law of Moses, 
too. 

STOEY 

The day that Jesus sat with his disciples on the 
mountainside he spoke about weights and meas- 
ures. Have you ever heard what he said? Jesus 
said to his disciples that they should teach peo- 

106 



THE GOLDEN RULE 107 

pie to give *^good measure, pressed down, shaken 
together, running over/' Who can tell me what 
that means ? 

Who has heard of measuring boys and girls 
and even big people? Oh, yes, I know you like 
to know exactly how tall you are, and exactly how 
much you weigh, but it is another kind of measure 
I am thinking about. How do your teachers meas- 
ure you at examination time? Do they measure 
your conduct? Do you have rules in your school? 
Eules are measures. If you keep all the rules, you 
measure A or 100%. Jesus gave a rule to his dis- 
ciples by which to measure conduct. He wants 
you to get A. Matthew remembered to put Jesus' 
rule in his little book. 

You remember that Matthew was one of the 
men who sat there on the mountainside. John 
will read from Matthew's book the rule or meas- 
ure Jesus gave. Eeads Matthew 7:12. Let us 
repeat it. Who will tell me what it means ? Again 
repeat it. Copy it in your notebook. It is a very 
important rule. We all know pretty well what we 
like ourselves and what we don't like. 

Jesus wants us first to think about what we like 
other people to do for us. Then he wants us to be 
just as kind to them. It seems as if that ought to 
be easy, doesn't it? Some one has given a name 
to this rule or measure. It is called the '^Golden 
Rule/' po you think that is a good name for it? 
Why? 

Let us see how this golden rule would work 



108 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

here in our school. Suppose you were the teacher, 
how would you like the children to sit during the 
worship period? Then what does this rule tell you 
to do? Perhaps you can tell me what you would 
like if you were the music-teacher? If you were 
the boy who sits next to you? Now let us see 
how the Golden Bule works at home? and at play? 
Let the children offer instances and supplement 
them as necessary. 

There is another way to keep the Golden Eule. 
It is not to do anything to others that you do not 
want them to do to you. Jesus* rule means that 
but it means more, too. It means to have a loving 
heart so that you will think of pleasant things to 
do — just such things as you know you like. It 
means to bring your money to help start schools 
like ours, for children who have no school in vaca- 
tion time. It means to help the famine children. 
Do you think that Joseph kept the Golden Eule 
when he forgave his brothers ? 

Jesus taught his disciples wonderful rules, but 
they are hard. Matthew wrote them for us and 
now I am teaching you Jesus' ^^Rule of Love." 

Jesus told his disciples that we should even 
wish well to our enemies. I hope you haven't any 
enemies, but if you have, try to wish good to them. 
That is one of Jesus' very hardest rules. Did 
Joseph keep that rule? Did Jesus keep that rule? 
Do you know how Jesus prayed for his enemies, 
even on the cross, even for the very men who 
drove the nails into his hands and feet? What did 



THE GOLDEN RULE 109 

he say? '^Father, forgive them.'^ Jesus prayed 
for those who did not love him. Can you learn 
such a hard lesson ? I will read it to you. Teacher 
reads Matthew 5:43-48. That is like giving 
**good measure pressed down and running over/' 
isn't it? Let us pray now. 

Dear Jesus, 

Help us to have hearts full of love, so that 
it will be easy to keep the Golden Rule, * ^ to do to 
others as we would have them do to us.*' Help 
us to wish good to every one and to be kind even 
to any boy or girl who is not kind to us. Help us 
to try to be perfect like our Father in Heaven. 

Amen. 

Closing, Title. Memory text. 



LESSON 20: REVIEW 

This is our twentieth lesson, boys and girls. 
Who can write on the blackboard the names of 
the persons in the first ten stories? Here they 
are, thank you : 

Abraham and Sarah. Hagar and Ishmael. 
Isaac and Rebekah. 
Jacob and Esau. 

Joseph and his brothers, Benjamin, Reuben, 
Simeon, Judah, , , , , 



It may be necessary to suggest, if all the names 
are not given promptly, as : Who moved to a new 
home? What was Abram's wife's name? Who 
made trouble in the home? Who was Abraham's 
son? Whom did Isaac marry? Who found Re- 
bekah? Who were Isaac's sons? How many sons 
did Jacob have? Who was his best son? His 
youngest? Which brother tried to save Joseph? 
Which brother was kept in the prison while the 
rest went back to Canaan? Which brother plead 
for Benjamin? If children volunteer the names 
let them be written in any order, and rearrange 
afterwards, as above. Refer to pictures used to 
aid in recalling names. 

110 



REVIEW, 111 

Let a child come forward to represent each per- 
son. Let each child standing tell something about 
the person whose name he or she has taken. Boys 
and girls may be appointed the day previous to 
the review, to tell briefly the story connected with 
the name. After each story ask for the memory 
text, referring to the list of First Words. Who 
knows in what part of the Bible we can find these 
stories when we want to read them? Who will 
come and show the part f What is it called ? What 
does Genesis mean? It means ^* beginning.'' 
Who knows the first verse in Genesis 1 I have told 
you a few of the very first stories in the Bible. 
Who knows what we call all this part of the Bible 
that was written before Jesus was born? Did 
Jesus know these stories in the Old Testament? 
What do we call the part of the Bible that tells us 
about Jesus! Did Jesus have a New Testament? 
No, it was written after he died and went to 
heaven. 

Who wrote the story of Jesus' life for us? 
Have four boys stand at the front to represent 
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, each boy holding a 
Gospel. Which Gospel story have we been read- 
ing? Matthew will remain standing while the 
others take seats. The teacher questions Mat- 
thew as follows : 

Matthew, will you tell us what your business was 
before Jesus called you? I was a tax-gatherer. 
I collected money for the king. I was called a 



112 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

publican. Wliy were you willing to follow Jesus, 
Matthew? When you gave a feast for Jesus in 
your house whom did you invite? Why did you 
invite the other publicans? Matthew, would you 
like to hear these children tell or read you some 
of the stories of Jesus that are written in your 
book? Have children appointed the day before 
or call for volunteers, as you please. 

1st child. Story of the Wise Men. (This story 
may be acted instead of spoken.) Thank you, 
Matthew, for writing down this story. We love 
to hear it at Christmas time every year. We will 
now sing for you about the three kings. 

2nd child. Story of the trip to Egypt and the 
return to Nazareth. Memory text recited by 
school. 

3rd child. Story of John the Baptist. Memory 
text recited by school. ^^ Matthew, we are very 
glad that you went up the mountain and sat with 
Jesus. We are glad you remembered what Jesus 
taught you that day, and that you wrote it down 
for us. We have all tried to learn part of the 
lesson and will now recite for you the Beatitudes. 
Eight children come forward and recite. The 
school rises and recites the whole selection. Mat- 
thew 5:1-12. 

4. ^* Matthew, these boys and girls have also 
learned the Golden Eule that Jesus taught. They 
know that it is hard always to remember to treat 
others as they like to be treated, but they mean 
to try. Thank you, Matthew, for writing the 



REVIEW 113 

Golden Eule in your story of Jesus. ' ' School rises 
and recites, ^* Whatsoever you would that men 
should do to you, do you even so to them." 

Teacher prays, children repeating sentence by 
sentence : 

Our Father, We pray thee to help us to do to 
others what we like them to do to us. Help us, 
we pray thee, not to do things to our playmates 
that we do not like them to do to us. Help us, 
our Father, to say '^No'' quickly as Jesus did, 
whenever we are tempted to do wrong. Help us 
to be loving and merciful. Help us to be peace- 
makers. Help us to be pure in heart. Amen. 



Fifth Week 

LESSON 21 : LEARNING TO PRAY 

Story of the Lord's Prayer 

MEMORY text: Lord, teach us to pray. Luke 11:2. 
pictures: Wilde, 417, 438, 784, 736, 525, 384. Brown, 
507m. (These pictures all relate to prayer.) 

INTEODUCTION- 

Every morning we say together or perhaps we 
sing, '^Our Father who art in heaven.'' Do you 
know who taught us our prayer? One day when 
Jesus ' twelve disciples were with him, one of them 
said, ^^Lord, teach us to pray." Then Jesus 
talked to his disciples about praying. Jesus said, 
*^Do not make long prayers, and do not say the 
same words over and over for that is the way the 
heathen do. "When they pray to their idols, they 
think they shall be heard for their much speak- 
ing." Have you heard of people who count their 
prayers and say them over and over ? Jesus said, 
'*Do not do that for your Father in heaven knows 
what you need even before you ask. ' ' Then Jesus 
said, '*Pray like this: Our Father who art in 
heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom 

114 



LEARNING TO PRAY 115 

come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 
Give US this day our daily bread. And forgive us 
our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass 
against us. And lead us not into temptation, but 
deliver us from evil. 



STOEY 

(It would be well to write the prayer on the 
blackboard, beginning each petition on a line.) 

Jesus talked to his disciples about this prayer. 
He wanted them to understand what they were 
saying. Sometimes I wonder whether you know 
what all these words mean. Let me see who can 
tell what : 

1. *' Hallowed be thy name" means! (Listen 
to answers and select best.) I once asked a boy 
and he said, ^'It means not to swear J' It means 
to be very careful how you speak God's name. 
Another boy said, ^' Speak it softly.'^ — It surely 
means to speak God's name carefully and as if 
we loved him very much, for he is our Father 
in heaven. He takes care of us. His name is 
holy. Sometimes you may hear men and boys 
and girls use God's name when they are angry! 
I hope you will never, never do it. 

Now let us look at the next part of the Lord's 
prayer. Let us say it slowly : 

2. **Thy Kingdom come — thy will be done on 
earth as it is in heaven." Who can tell me what 
that means? (Listen again. Children's ideas are 



116 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

often very helpful. If no one responds, still wait 
a moment, asking every one to think.) I think it 
means that we would like every one to be good, and 
to do just what God wants them to do. God's will 
is always right. We must try to find out what 
God wants us to do and then do it. 

I am sure you all understand the next part of 
the Lord's prayer. 3. ^^Give us this day our 
daily bread." I heard a little boy say, ^^Yes, 
Mamma, but I want butter too." God gives us 
butter too; how! God gives us many kinds of 
food. How does he give us fruit, apples, oranges 
and many other kinds ? Yes, he makes them grow. 
Our daily bread means any food. 

I think when every one in all the world loves 
the Lord's Prayer, no one will ever be hungry 
and there will be no famine anywhere! Why? 
Because we will all help each other quickly. Our 
pennies will help send this prayer to some chil- 
dren who have not heard it. We don't want any- 
body to pray as the heathen do. I have heard 
that some of the heathen have a prayer-wheel that 
they turn round many times to make many pray- 
ers. Can any one make prayers with a wheel? 
No, indeed. Some heathen have prayers written 
on pieces of paper and burn them. Perhaps they 
think the smoke carries the prayers to God. We 
do not need smoke to carry them, for God is here. 
Some heathen cut themselves and jump up and 
down when they pray and think that makes God 
listen! How many want to help such people? 



LEARNING TO PRAY 117 

Each one can do a little, by bringing pennies, and 
perhaps, when you grow np to be men and women, 
you will go to the heathen lands and teach those 
people and doctor them as the missionaries did 
in Bunsi^s country. 

There is another very important part of the 
Lord's prayer. 4. '^Forgive us our trespasses as 
we forgive those who trespass against us.'' Jesus 
explained that part to his disciples. Jesus said, 
^^If you forgive those who do wrong to you, then 
your heavenly Father will forgive you when you 
do wrong." I am sure you will all understand 
that when you think how Joseph forgave his 
brothers. What other brothers did we talk about 
who forgave each other? 

5. Do you remember what Jesus answered 
when he was tempted to do wrong? The next part 
of the Lord's prayer is about temptation. Jesus 
knew that even boys and girls are likely to be 
tempted to do wrong. So he teaches us to say, 
*^Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from 
evil." 

Who has learned any other prayer? Who 
taught you to pray? See if you can think of a 
hymn we sing that is like a prayer? ^^ Saviour, 
like a shepherd lead us." 

Who can make a new prayer? I know quite a 
little boy who thanked God every day at the table 
when he ate. He could make his own prayer. 
He called it **a thank you prayer." We will 
know our Father better if we talk to him in our 



118 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

own way every day. Will any one pray now and 
thank God for our school? 

Will any one try to write a prayer and bring 
it to me to read to-morrow? See all these pic- 
tures that I have put up to-day? What are all 
these people doing? Who are they? Here is little 
Samuel. Here is David. Here is Washington. 
All are praying. How many know about the wire- 
less? A little boy once asked me if God has a 
5nreless. Think about that little boy's question. 



LESSON 22: LEARNING FROM BIRDS AND 
FLOWERS 

Nature Stories 

BIBLE readings: Matthcw 6: 19-34. 

MEMORY text: Your Heavenly Father knoweth that you 
have need of all these things, but seek first the 
kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these 
things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6: S3, 

pictures: Wilde, 67, 722. Brown, 6l4m, 766m. Brown's 
Special, 1. Large Bird and Nature Pictures (7 by 9). 
2. Miniature colored birds. 3, Bird and Nature 
Postcards. 

INTKODUCTION 

I know that boys and girls like riddles. I have 
one for yon to-day. See if yon can guess it. A 
poet wrote it. 

"There's a house with white walls 
Too fair for a queen! 
'Tis built on a ladder 
All stately and green. 
Seven brothers and sisters 
Dwell there day and night. 
The eldest wears green. 
The others wear white. 
The green ladder grows. 
The white walls enclose 
And the children throw 
Yellow dust on your nose !'* 
119 



120 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

I wish I had this house with white walls to 
show you. I am sure you must have seen a house 
like this one with white walls built on a green 
ladder at Easter. Eemember, the green ladder 
grows. Yes, the answer is an Easter lily. Now 
repeat the riddle slowly, giving or letting the chil- 
dren give the meaning of each line, as: Seven 
brothers and sisters are these long thread-like 
parts. What are they called? The eldest? the 
pistil. The others? the stamens. Yellow dust? 
pollen, etc. 

Did you ever think how wonderful it is that such 
a pure white flower grows out of the dark ground f 
All flowers are wonderful. Who makes them 
grow? Can we help? How many have a favorite 
flower ? Which is yours ? and yours ? How many 
like roses best? How many like lilies best? Can 
any bring flowers to-morrow to decorate our 
room? If we cannot get them, shall we make 
paper flowers? They will have bright colors but 
no sweet odors. 

STOEY 

Away in Palestine where Jesus lived there were 
many lilies but not just like ours. I have been told 
that they were bright red lilies. Have you seen 
red lilies in the country with black spots on them! 
Do you know what some people call them ? ^ ' Tiger 
lilies.'' Jesus loved flowers. Sometimes when 
he went out where flowers were growing he talked 



LEARNING FROM BIRDS AND FLOWERS 121 

about them to the people. You can see Jesus 
standing in this picture with flowers near his feet 
and the people listening. A French artist painted 
a large picture like this about a hundred years 
ago. This is a photograph of the painting. Some 
of these people you see in this picture were poor 
and in trouble. Some of them were very much 
worried about food and clothing. Jesus always 
tried to comfort any one who was in trouble. 
He thought it would comfort these people to think 
how God makes beautiful flowers grow. I have 
asked Mary to read just what Jesus said about 
the lilies. (Reads verses 28-33.) 

One day as Jesus was talking some birds flew 
overhead. Jesus pointed to the flying birds and 
said, 

"Behold the birds of the air. 
They sow not, 
Neither do they reap 
Nor gather into barns. 
But your heavenly Father feedeth tHem.** 

(Children repeat.) 

''Are not you of more value than birds? Do not 
be anxious ! ' ' How do birds get their food I Have 
you ever seen them feeding right in the streets of 
the city or by the wayside? They cannot store 
food away for winter as the squirrels do, nor keep 
it in barns as the farmer does. What do they do? 
They fly away to the South and there find food. 
Did you ever think how it is that birds know about 



122 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

the SoTitli? What do they find in the South? 
Why? 

Now let me see if any one remembers the riddle. 
Shall we try to learn it? What is the green stately 
ladder? The stem. What are the white walls? 
The petals. How many petals has an Easter lily? 
Six. Who are the children that throw yellow dust 
on your nose? They are the stamens of the 
flower. Each stamen has a tiny cap that holds 
yellow pollen. When those little caps break open, 
out comes the yellow dust. 

The tall one in the middle is the pistil. What 
little insect comes to get the pollen? Do you know 
what bees make of the pollen? They make wax. 
Even the flowers help the bees. What do the bees 
do with the wax? They make the honeycomb to 
hold honey. Some of us learned the 19th Psalm 
last summer. What did it say is sweeter than 
honey? Eefer to Psalm 19 : 7-10. 

We must remember to look about us to find 
other wonderful things that God has made, and 
not forget to thank him for them. The bees, the 
Bowers and the birds all teach us to think of God 
who gives so many good gifts I The flowers help 
us to be happy with their gay colors and sweet 
odors. The birds often have bright colors too. 
See all the pictures of birds we have on our wall. 
All the colors of the rainbow can be found in birds' 
feathers. Who can name the rainbow colors? 
Bed, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet. What bird 
is yellow ? blue ? green ? red ? orange ? violet ? Then 



LEARNING FROM BIRDS AND FLOWERS 123 

some of the birds sing sweet songs. Which have 
you heard? "We even like to hear the bees hum 
and buzz ! They won't sting us unless we disturb 
them. 

Last year those who attended the D. V. B. S. 
talked about many wonderful things in the sky. 
What does the 19th Psalm say? *^The heavens 
declare the glory of God, and the firmament show- 
eth his handiwork.'' Who are remembering to 
watch for a bright star every night f Recite Psalm 
19 ; 1-6, or read it. Now let us learn some of 
Jesus' words about our Father's gifts. (Memo- 
rize verse 33.) 

Closing, What shall we name our lesson? And 
what is our memory verse? Remember about 
bringing flowers or pictures of them to-morrow. 
Think what we can do with them to make some 
one happy. If you cannot bring flowers, will you 
write a list of all the flowers you have seen, and 
if you can, draw pictures of them? Shall we put 
the best lists and drawings on a chart? Tell me 
to-morrow what to do with them. 



LESSON 23: A KIND MASTER HELPING HIS 
SERVANT 

Story of the Centurion 

BIBLE readings: Matthcw 8: 5-13. 

MEMORY text: Lord, my servant lieth in the house, sick of 
the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus said 
unto him, "I will come and heal him." Matthew 
8:6-7. 

pictures: Wilde, 68, 69' Brown, 601m. 

INTKODUCTION 

I am going to write three words on the black- 
board that I think will interest you. Perhaps you 
know the meaning of the three. They all begin the 
same way. Teacher writes : 

cent 

century 

cente'ivyiial 

centurion 

Children or teacher defines each word, and un- 
derlines the first four letters of each. Do you 
know that there are many different languages? 
Name some. There is a language called Latin. It 
has a word like our word ''cent'' which means ^^a 
hundred. ' ' 

It takes a hundred cents to make a dollar. A 

124 



A KIND MASTER HELPING HIS SERVANT 125 

century means a hundred years. When our coun- 
try was one hundred years old, we had a centenmed 
celebration. Do you ever study words in your 
school that are alike to help you remember their 
meaning? There is another word that begins like 
these three. I will write it. Perhaps some have 
heard it. Writes under the other words Ce^^urion. 
A centurion was a captain of a hundred soldiers. 

STOEY 

There is a story Matthew wrote for us about 
a centurion who came one day to see Jesus. This 
centurion was in trouble. Some of his soldiers 
came with him and some of his Jewish friends to 
introduce him to Jesus. They said, *^He is a kind 
man. He built a synagogue for us." Some of 
the centurions were not kind to the Jews. I have 
seen boys who are not. Have you! 

The centurion was very anxious for Jesus to 
do something for him. He had heard that Jesus 
could heal the sick. He said to Jesus, ^^Lord, my 
servant lies at home sick of the palsy. He is very 
sick, grievously tormented." Jesus said, ^^I will 
come and heal him/' Then the centurion said, 
* ' Oh, no, you need not come to my house. I am not 
worthy that you should come under my roof. 
Speak the word only and my servant shall be 
healed. I am a captain of a hundred soldiers, and 
I just speak to my men and they do as I say. You 
are a great physician. I have heard many people 



126 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

tell what you can do. Just speak and I know my 
servant will be well when I get home. ' ' Jesus was 
surprised and pleased that this strange soldier 
who had never seen him before was so sure that 
he would help him. Jesus said, * ^ Go thy way and 
as thou hast believed so be it done unto thee." 
And the servant was well when the centurion 
reached home. This centurion was a kind master. 
His servant worked for him and when he was sick, 
he took care of him just as if he were one of his 
own children. I am sure that pleased Jesus. A 
good man once said, * ^ Those that are strong ought 
to help those that are weak." I am afraid some 
masters do T^ot take such good care of their serv- 
ants when they are sick. Shall we call our lesson 
' * A Kind Master helping his Servant 1 ^ ' And shall 
we learn what this kind centurion said to Jesus 
and what Jesus answered? 

A great painter read this story about the cen- 
turion. He painted a picture of it, a large fine pic- 
ture. It shows the centurion dressed as soldiers 
used to dress in armor. He is kneeling before 
Jesus beseeching him to help his servant. His 
helmet is off because it was respectful to take it 
oif . Some of the soldiers in the picture have their 
helmets on. There is a horse and a dog in the 
picture. I wonder why. I have a small copy of 
this great painting for you to look at. 

Closing^ Name lesson. Learn text. Describe 
picture. Eeference may be made to faithful 
servants, as Abraham's. 



LESSON 24: "PEACE, BE STILL" 

Story of a Tempest and a Wild Boy 

BIBLE readings: Matthcw 8:23-34. 

MEMORY text: "What manner of man is this that even the 
winds and the sea obey him/' Matthew 8 : 27. 

"He that is slow to anger is better than the 
mighty. 

And he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh 
a city." Proverbs 16:32. 

"A soft answer turneth away wrath.'* Proverbs 
15:1. 
pictures: Wilde, 78 and 90. Brown, 198m. 

INTEODUCTION 

I am sure yon all remember that some of Jesus ' 
disciples were fishermen. Can you name four? 
Probably more were fishermen. While these men 
gave up fishing to help Jesus teach the people, still 
they often went out in their boats on the Sea of 
Galilee. Sometimes the people crowded around 
Jesus and he taught them all day. Then Jesus was 
tired and hungry. 

One day to rest Jesus, the disciples took him 
out in one of their big boats on the Sea of Galilee. 
There was a place on this boat to lie down and 

127 



128 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

rest. Jesus soon fell asleep. Listen while I tell 
you what happened or perhaps you can tell 
me. 



STOEY 

And behold, there arose a great tempest in the 
sea so that the boat was covered with the waves ; 
but still Jesus slept. The winds blew and the 
waves rose higher and higher. The ship tossed 
up and down, and still Jesus slept. He must have 
been very tired. The disciples were brave men 
and they knew well how to manage a boat but this 
storm frightened them. They thought the boat 
would sink, and that they would all be drowned 
— and yet Jesus slept. They said to one another, 
^^We must wake Jesus and ask him to help us." 
They called Jesus and awoke him, saying, ^'Save 
us. Lord, we perish. Do you not care?" Jesus 
awoke and said, ^'Why are you so fearful? Did 
you not know that I can take care of you f ' ' Then 
Jesus stood up in the boat and said, *^ Peace, be 
still" — and there was a great calm — all was quiet. 
The wind stopped blowing and the waves rolled 
away. And the men marveled that even the wind 
and the waves obeyed Jesus ! Listen to what they 
said, ' ' What manner of man is this that even the 
winds and the sea obey him!" (All repeat.) A 
poet read this story in Matthew's little book. He 
said, ^^I will make a song for the children about 
this story. ' ' I have asked George to read this song 



"PEACE, BE STILL" 129 

to US. I wish we could sing it. (George reads or 
recites.) 

"A little ship was on the sea. 
It was a pretty sight; 
It sailed along so pleasantly 
And all was calm and bright. 
When, lo, a storm began to rise, 
The wind grew loud and strong; 
It blew the clouds across the sky. 
It blew the ship along. 

And all but One was sore afraid 

Of sinking in the deep. 

His head was on a pillow laid 

And he was fast asleep. 

Master, we perish. Master, save I 

They cried — their Master heard. 

He rose, rebuked the winds and waves 

And stilled them with a word." 



There is another similar hymn which may be 
found and sung, ^'Master, the tempest is raging." 
Also, ^^ Jesus, Saviour, pilot me." Who else wrote 
the story of Jesus besides Matthew! Do you re- 
member the four little books I showed you ? Mat- 
thew, Mark and Luke all tell us this wonderful 
story. Mark even tells us in what part of the 
ship Jesus was lying and about the pillow or cush- 
ion. Louise will read Mark's account of the storm. 
(Beads Mark 5:35-41.) It is Mark who tells us 
that Jesus said, ^^ Peace, be still." Matthew did 
not put it in his story, just as two of you do not 



ISO LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

tell the story exactly the same way. Shall we take 
Jesus ' words for the name of our lesson? * ^ Peace, 
be still. '^ I will tell you why I want you to re- 
member them especially. Sometimes a storm of 
anger rises in your heart. Did you ever think 
that anger is like a dreadful storm? 

Anger sometimes makes children kick and strike 
and scream. It even makes men kill each other. 
What did Esau say he would do when he was angry 
with his brother Jacob ! What did Joseph's broth- 
ers say? Will you, while you are young, try to 
conquer your temper^ A wise father advised his 
son to count ten if he was angry before he said a 
word, and if very angry to count a hundred. 
Has any one given you any other rule? I know 
a boy who said, *^I have a temper, but I mean to 
conquer it. I shall not let it conquer me!'' He 
was a little older than you are but you can do it 
too if you try. Perhaps some one has been mean 
to you, perhaps some one has told a lie about you, 
or has cheated in a play — perhaps a boy or girl 
has hit you, or made fun of you. You begin to 
feel hot all over. Look out, the storm is rising! 
Close your mouth and run out of doors. It is very 
good to go out into the open air. It helps you 
cool off. 

To-day we have two pictures. One is of the 
angry sea with its great waves, the other is of an 
angry boy. People thought this boy was crazy* 
They brought him to Jesus and Jesus made him 
well. Being very angry is very much like being 



"PEACE, BE STILL*' 131 

crazy. How many will promise to speak to Jesus 
if they find themselves getting angry! Shall we 
speak to him now? 

Dear Jesus : We want to conquer our angry tem- 
pers. Help us not to get wild with anger. Help 
us to remember your kind voice saying, ^* Peace, 
be still." Amen. 

Closing, Title. Memory texts. 

You have heard of great generals who captured 
cities in the great war. If you can conquer a had 
temper, the Bible says it is better than to take a 
city I 



LESSON 25: REVIEW OR MISSIONARY STORY 

I have been counting the pennies you have 
brought during these five weeks. I wonder whether 
you have brought as many as you should ! What 
are they for? I hope that this money will be 
used to help more children have schools like ours 
next year. Don't you? Have we had a good 
time? There are many children who have noth- 
ing much to do all summer. They waste precious 
time. They get into trouble and some are hurt 
on the streets. 

We want them all to have a Daily Vacation Bible 
School like ours. We want to help buy tools for 
them to work with. We want to help pay for 
little Gospel books like the one Matthew wrote 
for us — so that they may learn to read about 
Jesus and how he went about doing good. We 
want them to learn the Golden Rule that Jesus 
taught. Do you remember it? We want them to 
learn about the eight ways to be blessed. Where 
are our girls to recite the ^^Blesseds?'' 

We want all children to learn to say ^^No'' 
quickly if they are tempted to do wrong. We 
want them to know about our Heavenly Father 
and to learn to pray to him. Just think, children, 
your pennies are going to help do these very 
things. Are you glad? Let us tell our Father in 

132 



REVIEW OR MISSIONARY STORY 13$ 

Heaven that we are glad we have this money to 
give and ask him to bless it. Who will make a 
little thankful prayer ? 
I will pray too after you. (Pauses.) 

Our Father in Heaven, I thank thee for the kind 
parents who have given these children pennies to 
hring to our school. I am glad they did not spend 
all their pennies for themselves. We know that 
Jesus said, ^'It is more blessed to give than to re- 
ceive." Help us to be glad to give. Amen. 

Last year some of our D. V. B. S. money went 
to China to buy food for very hungry boys and 
girls Here is a picture of some of the children 
jvho were fed. Their teachers sent it to us. 

There was a little girl in China whose father 
had nothing to give her to eat. He said, ^*I will 
sell her to a man who can give her food. If he 
makes her work hard, I shall be very sorry, but I 
must sell her." And then one of our teachers in 
a Daily Vacation Bible School called on this father 
and told him if he would send his daughter to the 
Bible School every day, she would be fed. The 
teacher told the father that some children in Amer- 
ica had bought the food for her. 

Do you think the little girl was happy when she 
heard that she wouldn't have to be sold? There 
are still hungry children in China. Would you 
like to have some of your pennies keep a little 
girl from being sold? Let me tell you another 



1S4 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

story about a boy in China. He was not hungry, 
but he had a toothache. He had never been taught 
to keep his teeth clean. He did not even know 
what made them ache. His grandfather told him 
that there was a little demon that had come to 
live in his tooth. Now this little boy thought that 
it was true. Do you! Perhaps you do not know 
what those people mean by a demon. Well, I 
hardly know either because there is no such thing. 

It so happened that some good Christian peo- 
ple who love Jesus had built a hospital near this 
little boy's house. The little boy heard that there 
was a doctor in the hospital who could drive 
demons out. So the boy went to the hospital and 
asked to see the doctor who could drive demons 
out of a boy's mouth. The kind doctor laughed 
and said, *^I don't believe there are any demons 
but I will take that tooth out." And he did. Of 
course the pain was gone. The good doctor then 
told the boy how to take care of his teeth. Could 
you have told him I 

Closing, Eeview titles, texts and pictures of 
the week. 



Sixth Week 

LESSON 26: CARING FOR THE BLIND AND 
THE DUMB 

Five Stories of Jesus' Love and Power 

BIBLE readings: Matthcw 9: 1-7, 20-35. 

MEMORY text: And Jesus went about all the cities and vil- 
lages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching 
the gospel of the kingdom and healing every sick- 
ness and disease among the people. Matthew 9: 36. 

pictures: Wilde, 686, 704. Refer back to numbers 57, 
69, and 79. Brown, 597m, 200m, 199m, 201m. 

INTRODUCTION" 

The day after that dreadful storm on the Sea 
of Galilee, Jesus sailed back in the ship to his 
own city on the other side of the sea. Bo you 
remember about the carpenter's house in Naza- 
reth? Where were the stairs? How high was the 
house ? One day Jesus was in a house something 
like that one in Nazareth, but in the city of Caper- 
naum. 

STORY 

The people crowded around the door and Jesus 
talked to them. In the crowd there was a sick 

135 



136 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

man carried by his friends. He had a sickness 
called the palsy, and could not walk. His friends 
could not get near Jesus but they would not give 
up. They saw the steps on the outside. They 
carried the man up the steps to the roof and laid 
him on a mat. They tied ropes to the corners of the 
mat and let the sick man down through a hole in 
the roof, right into the room where Jesus was! 
(Show picture.) 

Jesus said to the man, *^ Arise and walk." And 
the man arose, took up his mat and went to his own 
house. I suppose the crowd made room for him 
to pass. !5]very one was very much surprised and 
all praised God. 

The same day Matthew invited Jesus to his 
house to a feast. Do you remember that I told 
you about that dinner? Who were invited! 

I cannot tell you all that happened that day. 
It was a very busy day. While Jesus was talking 
to his friends, a man came to tell Jesus that his 
little daughter was dead. He said, '^Oh, Jesus, 
come and lay your hand on her and she shall live. ' ' 
Jesus arose and followed the little girPs father. 
But as Jesus was walking through the street, a 
woman who had been sick twelve years came be- 
hind Jesus and touched the hem of his garment. 
No one saw her do it. This sick woman had heard 
such stories of Jesus' love and power that she 
said to herself, **If I can only touch his clothes I 
shall be weU!'' 

Mark tells us something that Matthew did not 



CARING FOR BLIND AND DUMB 137 

remember to write in his book. Mark tells us that 
Jesus said, * * Who touched my clothes ? ' ' The dis- 
ciples said, *^How can we tell when there is such 
a crowd r' Then the sick woman was frightened. 
She was afraid she had done wrong, but Jesus 
looked around kindly and said, ^^ Daughter, your 
faith has made you well ; go home in peace. ' ' Soon 
they reached the house where they were going. 
The friends of the little girl were all crying. They 
said, **She is dead,'' but Jesus said, **She is not 
dead but is sleeping." The people laughed at 
Jesus. Then Jesus took her by the hand, and the 
little girl arose. Jesus told the father to give her 
something to eat right away. How kind Jesus was 
to think that she must be hungry! 

How many stories of sick people have I told you 
to-day? Let us count. First about the man who 
couldn't walk, then about the sick woman and now 
about the little girl. One, two, three stories about 
Jesus' love and power. 

But I have two more stories to tell you. I won- 
der if you can remember five stories ? When Jesus 
left the little girl's home, two blind men followed 
him. What did they want? They called to Jesus, 
crying, **Thou son of David, have mercy on us!" 
Jesus said, *^Do you believe I can help you see?" 
They said, ^* Yes, Lord." Then Jesus touched 
their eyes and their eyes were opened. Close your 
eyes for a moment and think how you would feel 
if you could not open them. These men were so 
happy that they went all around the country tell- 



138 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

ing how Jesus had opened their eyes. That is the 
fourth story about Jesus' love and power. 

There is one more story. It is about a dumb 
man. He could not speak. How do some dumb 
people talk! Yes, they make letters with their 
fingers. Jesus made this dumb man speak. The 
people said, ^^We never saw such a thing happen 
before in our country!'' This is the fifth story 
about Jesus' love and power. Those who can 
read may find all these stories in the 9th chapter 
of Matthew's book. 

Are there any blind people in our city? Have 
any of ypu ever helped a blind person? Tell me 
about it. Can doctors make blind people see? 
Sometimes they can. They teach people how to 
take care of their eyes too. What have you been 
taught about taking care of your eyes ? 

How do blind children read? Who teaches 
them? Yes, kind people have schools for blind 
children. Blind children can now go to some of 
our public schools. I have seen their classmates 
lead them from room to room so that they would 
not stumble. Some of these blind children listen 
so well that you would not know they are blind. 
I heard of one who stood highest in her class. 

In the Public Library there is a room full of 
books for the blind. They are very large because 
the letters are raised. Perhaps I can borrow one 
to show you or when you are older you may go 
to see those books. 

Blind children learn to write. To-morrow I will 



CARING FOR BLIND AND DUMB 139 

read you a letter written by a blind girl about 
your age. Helen is blind and deaf too, yet she 
has learned to talk and to read and to write. Can 
blind children learn to make things? Yes, they 
love to use their hands. They can learn to weave 
and to sew. They can string beads. They can 
model in clay. When they are older they some- 
times make brushes and brooms. How can they 
do these things when they cannot see! They 
have the sense of touch and do everything by 
feeling. Blind children often learn to sing and 
to play on the piano or the violin. There are 
many countries where no one teaches blind and 
deaf and dumb children. Such poor children just 
sit and beg all day long! Even in our country 
there are blind beggars. Do you think we should' 
let them sit on the street and beg? What is a 
better way to help them? 

In China and in Egypt many children have 
sore eyes because their parents do not keep them 
clean. They need doctors to tell them what to do 
before they lose their sight. Our pennies may 
help send doctors to them. Shall we thank G-od 
for our sight and pray for those who are blind? 
Who will do it? 

Our Father: We thank thee that we can see. 
We thank thee for the lovely colors we can see. 
We thank thee that we can see the kind faces of 
our friends. We are sorry for all blind children 
and will help them when we can. Amen. 

Closing, Title and text memorized. 



LESSON 27: THE VALUE OF LITTLE THINGS 

What Jesus Said About a Cup of Cold Water 

BIBLE readings: Matthcw 10: 42. 

MEMORY text: Freely ye have received^ freely give. Mat- 
thew 10:8. 

pictures: Wilde, 544, 110, 116, 127. Brown, 632m, 214m, 
615m, 216m. 

INTRODUCTION 

Yesterday I promised to read a letter to yon 
to-day from a little blind girl. What else was 
the matter with Helen besides being blind? Yes, 
she was deaf. She could not learn to speak at 
first. Why? It was quite wonderful how Helen 
did learn to speak even though she could not hear 
others speak. Helen had to make just one little 
sound at a time. How many letters are there in 
our alphabet ? Helen had learned to feel all these 
twenty-six letters on blocks. (Show a child's 
block with raised letters if no book has been se- 
cured. The Lord's Prayer is obtainable on a 
single sheet in raised type.) 

One by one Helen's teacher taught her to make 
the sounds of the letters. Helen had to feel her 
teacher's lips and tongue. You have learned that 
some letters have more than one sound. Who can 
tell me a letter that has two sounds ? Helen had 

140 



THE VALUE OF LITTLE THINGS 141 

to learn forty sounds. She was very eager to 
speak and her teacher was very patient. Helen 
was so thankful to her teacher that she wrote this 
letter to her : 



My dear Teacher : 

My heart is full of joy this beautiful morning 
because I have learned to speak many new words 
and I can make sentences. Last evening I went 
out in the yard and spoke to the moon. I said, 
**0h, moon, come to me.'^ 

My little sister could not understand me when 
I spelled with my fingers but now she will sit on 
my lap and I will tell her stories and we shall 
be happy together. All my friends will be happy 
that I can speak. My big dog comes bounding 
towards me when I call her. Are you very happy 
because you can make so many people happy? I 
think you are very kind and patient and I love 
you very dearly. I have learned a great deal 
about my loving Heavenly Father and the dear 
Christ. I am very, very happy. God wants us 
to be happy. I think he wanted you to teach me 
to speak because he knew how much I wished 
to speak, like other people and not with my 
fingers. He did not want his child to be dumb 
and when I go to him he will let his angels teach 
me to sing. 

Your loving pupil, 

Helen". 



142 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

(Note.) Helen's teacher gave me a facsimile of 
Helen's letter. I have given only a part. 

Do you remember when onr Daily Vacation 
Bible School opened that I told you a story about 
the water we drink and where it comes from? 
Who can tell that story? (Review as in lesson 2.) 

A poet wrote this little story about a raindrop : 

"I'll hurry down to yonder bank, 
A little raindrop said^ 
And try to cheer that little flower 
And lift its drooping head. 
I Perhaps the breeze will chide me 
Because I am so small. 
But surely I will do my best 
For God has work for all." 

Sometimes I think of that little song when I see 
you, one after another drop your pennies into our 
glass jar. One penny cannot do very much but 
yet it can help. If we had ninety-nine cents, just 
one cent more would make it a dollar. This is 
our last week of school. I hope I shall see our 
raindrop pennies coming very fast this week till 
we have quite a shower ! 

STOBY OF A CUP OF COLD WATER 

One day when Jesus was talking to his dis- 
ciples, he told them that our Father in Heaven 
sees every little thing. Jesus said, ^^Even the 



THE VALUE OF LITTLE THINGS 143 

very hairs of your head ! ' ' Now a hair is a very 
small thing for God to notice, isn't it? It almost 
makes us laugh to think of it. Jesus said, **If 
there are two sparrows and one of them falls to 
the ground your Heavenly Father knows it." 

Matthew tells us too that Jesus said something 
about a cup of cold water. (Hold up a cup of 
water.) I think Jesus knew that some children 
have not much to give, perhaps not even one 
penny, so that day Jesus spoke about giving a 
cup of cold water. Jesus said, *^ Whosoever shall 
give to one of these little ones a cup of cold 
water only, will have a blessing." 

If you have no money to give, perhaps you can 
carry a cup of cold water to some one who m 
sick or do some other little act of kindness. Per- 
haps you can sing or tell a story. Even a smile 
is a good thing to give. 

There was once a little smile that traveled 
thousands of miles. Have you ever heard where 
it started? It started in a hospital, and it was 
the smile of a little sick boy. When the kind 
doctor came in, the little fellow looked up and 
smiled so pleasantly that the doctor wrote about 
it to a friend. So you see the smile traveled in 
a letter to a doctor who was in another hospital 
thousands of miles away. This doctor carried 
the smile to a little sick boy in his hospital, and 
this little boy asked the doctor to send a smile 
back to the sick boy in Dr. Grenf ell's hospital. 

God knows what we can give, but whatever we 



:144 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

give lie wants us to give it gladly. Perhaps we 
can only give a smile or a song or a cup of cold 
water, but if we can give more we must give just 
as much as possible to those who need our help. 

Closing, Yesterday our lesson was about very 
great things. What did we name itf And what 
was pur memory text? To-day our lesson has 
been about *' little things.'' Who can name them? 
A raindrop, a sparrow, a hair, a cup of cold 
water, a smile, a penny. Shall we call our lesson 
**The Value of Little Things"? Our text is one 
of Jesus' rules about giving. ** Freely ye have 
received, freely give." 

Some of our pennies will help start a new 
Baily Vacation Bible School, like ours. Shall we 
have a shower of pennies to-morrow? We only 
have three more days in this school. ** Freely ye 
have received, freely give." 



LESSON 28: A KIND MESSAGE TO A 
PRISONER 

Story of John the Baptist in Prison 

BIBLE readings: Matthcw 11:1-15. 

MEMORY TEXT : Go and show John again those things which 
ye do hear and see. Matthew 11:4. 

INTRODUCTION 

Three weeks ago I told yon the story of a man 
who was not afraid of wild beasts. Do yon re- 
member his name? Where did John the Baptist 
preach? How did he dress? What did he eat? 
What did he tell the people they shonld do ? Did 
John know Jesns? What did he tell the people 
abont Jesus ? ' * There is one coming greater than 
I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to 
stoop down and unloose !" (See Mark 1:7.) Do 
you remember how it was that John knew Jesus 
so well? Yes, they were cousins and we think 
they went to school together, and read the Scrip- 
tures together in the synagogue. 

Did Jesus go to hear John preach out in the 
wilderness of Judea? What did Jesus ask John 
to do? What did John answer? What did Jesus 
reply? In what river was John baptizing? 
Where is the Jordan Eiver? Is the Jordan River 

145 



146 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

there yet ? A little boy asked me whether any one 
<3ould go to Palestine now. What do you think 
about it? (Show route on a map if children are 
studying Geography in school.) How long would 
it take to go? 

Do you know some of our soldiers went to 
Palestine during the war? I know a minister who 
went to Palestine. He visited Bethlehem, Jeru- 
salem and Nazareth. He saw the Jordan River 
and he went out in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. 
What do you know about that Sea? This min- 
ister saw houses like the one Jesus and John lived 
in. Ho climbed the same hills that they climbed. 
Those red lilies still grow in Palestine and many 
other flowers like those that Jesus talked about. 
What did Jesus say about the lilies ? 

I hope some of you may go to visit the places 
where Jesus and John lived when you are older. 

STORY 

John the Baptist was a very brave man. Do 
you remember what John told the wicked king I 
He told even the king to repent. This made the 
king very angry. Where did the king tell his sol- 
diers to put John? 

A prison is a hard place to live in. It is so 
lonesome not to see your friends, not to be al- 
lowed to go out in the sunshine. It was very hard 
for John to be shut up in prison for he had lived" 
so long in the open air by the River Jordan. 



A KIND MESSAGE TO A PRISONER 147 

You have learned how healthy it is to go out of 
doors every day. John loved to watch the moon 
and the stars at night. Have you remembered 
to **look up'' at the sky too? I hope so. 

John was a brave man and was not afraid of 
wild beasts, nor of a wicked king, but he did not 
like to be in prison. It made him feel very sad. 
He almost thought God had forgotten him. He 
decided to send a message to Jesus. 

John asked two of his friends to find Jesus and 
ask him if he was really the One that God had 
sent to teach the people. Jesus was sorry to hear 
that the wicked king Herod had shut John up in 
a prison. Jesus knew John wanted to keep on 
teaching the people in the wilderness. He knew 
John was sad. Jesus could not go to the prison, 
but he sent a kind message back to John to com- 
fort him. He told the men to go back and tell 
John about the wonderful things that they had 
seen him do. Jesus knew that would comfort 
John and would make him sure that God had sent 
him to teach the people. 

Now what would you have told John! Yes, I 
am sure you would have told him those five 
stories I told you on Monday. I want five chil- 
dren to come out and tell us just how they would 
have spoken to John to comfort him. 

1st Child. I saw Jesus make a lame man walk. 
2nd Child. I saw Jesus open the eyes of a blind 
man. 



148 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

3rd Child. I heard that Jesus made a sick woman 
well who only touched the hem of his cloth- 
ing. 

4:th Child. I heard about a little girl whom the 
people said was dead. Jesus said, ^^She is 
not dead but is sleeping.'' Then Jesus took 
her hand and raised her up. 

^th Child. Jesus told me to tell you that he was 
preaching the good news of our Father in 
Heaven to the poor. 

While the men went back to take all these mes- 
sages to John, Jesus talked about John to the 
people in the street. A multitude, a crowd, had 
gathered around him. He said, *'Did you ever 
hear John preach! What did he tell you to do?" 
*^He told us to repent, to stop doing wrong and 
to be baptized.'' ^^How was John dressed? Did 
he dress like a king!" Then Jesus said, ^'John 
is a prophet, a great teacher. God sent him to 
you. He that hath ears to hear let him hear. Ee- 
member what John taught. God will send you 
more teachers. Listen to them too. They will 
teach you even more than John. Our Father has 
many things for you to learn." Then Jesus told 
them a sad story of some people whom God had 
to punish because they had been very wicked. 

Closing. Do you remember about another very 
good man who was put in prison? Why was 
Joseph put in prison! Do you remember how 
brave Joseph was and how he helped the keeper 



A KIND MESSAGE TO A PRISONER 149 

and did not grumble 1 Prisons are not meant for 
good people but for bad people. They are meant 
for those who strike others because they have not 
conquered their bad temper. Some even steal 
and kill. What is the man called who sends peo- 
ple to prison? The judge. Are boys and girls 
ever sent? The judges in our country do not like 
to send children to prison. A good judge in Den- 
ver made a new rule to give a child a second 
chance. Have you heard about it? But every 
one who gets another chance is told to come back 
once a week and tell the judge how he is behav- 
ing. Nearly all the boys try hard to please the 
judge and to bring a good report card. If the 
judge does send a boy or girl to prison, he tells 
the keeper of the prison to teach the boy how to 
behave, to have a school in the prison, and to 
have the boy learn how to work at a useful trade, 
so that he will be a good boy when he comes back 
to his home — and not an idle boy who wastes time 
on the street in fights and other foolish ways. 

In America we are trying to have every one 
who has to be shut up in prison treated as kindly 
as possible. "We have a school and a church for 
prisoners right inside the prison. We let them 
see pictures once in a while. We let them walk 
in the prison yard to exercise every day and to 
get fresh air. Sometimes they can play games. 
The keeper gets good food for them. Will you 
always remember that good Americans treat even 
prisoners kindly? We want them all to learn to 



150 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

keep the Golden Eule and all the laws of our 
country when they are set free. 

We are sorry to shut any one in prison but it 
must be done if they hurt other people. **He that 
hath ears to hear let him hear." 

Often kind people visit prisoners and tell them 
about our Father in Heaven who loves us all, and 
wants us always to repent if we have done wrong. 
Shall we pray for those who are in prison now? 

Our Father : We pray for all who are in prison 
that they may learn to do right and do to others 
as they would have others do to them. Bless the 
judges of our country. Help us all to obey the 
laws of our country and to be good citizens. 
Amen. 



LESSONS 29 AND 30: REVIEW AND PREPARA- 
TION FOR CLOSING EXERCISES 

These two days will doubtless be needed for 
reviewing the Memory Texts or in preparing- in 
other ways for the closing exercises of the school. 
In reviewing any of the lessons in which dia- 
logues or simple dramatic work has been used, 
let these parts be repeated. Part of the time 
will be required to drill thoroughly upon the se- 
lected passages of Scripture. Make sure that 
such selections convey a real meaning although 
their full meaning may only reveal itself with the 
years. 

Ask a child to show the two divisions of the 
Bible and also to find the first book in each and 
name it. Ask children to volunteer to tell stories, 
choosing the story, or assign stories to different 
children previous to the review. A few stories 
should be simply dramatized, letting the children 
plan: 

1. Abraham settling the dispute between the 
herdsmen. 

2. Rebekah at the well. 

3. Joseph lost and found. 

If it is desired to use these dramatic selections 
at the closing exercises they should be practised 

151 



152 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

several times. Simple costumes will add much to 
the scenes. Consult Bible pictures for sugges- 
tions. 

For the closing exercises the principal should 
select a good speaker from the school to preface 
the scenes as follows : 

Leader, Our first story from the Book of 
Genesis was about Abraham who has been called 
^'The Friend of God.'' Abram, as he was called 
at first, was a rich man who had many flocks and 
herds. He lived in Ur but he believed that God 
wished him to move to the land of Canaan. Lot, 
a nephew of Abram, went also to Canaan. A 
quarrel arose after they had reached the new 
home because there was not room in one place for 
so many cattle. Our boys will show you how 
Abraham, the friend of God, settled this dispute. 

[Persons. Abraham, Lot and the herdsmen on 
both sides. The herdsmen appear first and ges- 
ticulate as if driving Abraham's cattle away. 
They may speak if they wish. Abraham and Lot 
enter.] 

Abraham, What seems to be the trouble 
here? 

Lot, Uncle, the herdsmen say there is not 
room enough in this place for so many cattle. 

Abraham. Let there be no strife, I pray thee, 
between me and thee, and between my herdsmen 
and thy herdsmen, for we are brothers. Is not 
the whole land before thee? Separate thyself, I 
pray thee, from me. If thou wilt take the left 



REVIEW AND PREPARATION 153 

hand, then I will go to the right hand, or if thou 
wilt depart to the right hand then I will go to 
the left. 

Lot, (Looks about in both directions and 
finally decides to go to the East.) Uncle, I will 
have my herdsmen drive over this way on to the 
plain of Jordan. It seems to be well watered 
everywhere. Farewell (salaam). 

School rises and recites: *^ Blessed are the 
peace-makers for they shall be called the children 
of God.'' 

Leader, We cannot show all of the Old Testa- 
ment stories, but another story that interested 
the school very much is the story of Eebekah at 
the well. We will show part of the story. 

[^Persons. Eebekah; Abraham's servant; 
Laban; Bethuel — ^Mother.] 

RehekaK (Standing by a well, built by the 
boys. In Oriental dress — a pitcher or vase in her 
hand — study the Bible pictures for suggestions.) 

Abraham's servant, (Runs up to Rebekah.) 
Give me to drink, I pray thee, a little water of 
thy pitcher. We have been traveling a long way 
and are very thirsty. 

Rebekah. Drink, my lord, and I will draw 
water for thy camels also. 

Servant. Will you take these presents? (Gives 
Rebekah ring and bracelets.) Whose daughter 
art thou? Tell me, I pray thee. Is there room 
in thy father's house for us to lodge to-night I 

RebeJcah. I am the daughter of Bethuel. We 



154 LIFE STOEIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

hare both straw and provisions and room to 
lodge. 

Servant, (Bows his head and prays.) Blessed 
be the Lord of my master Abraham, who hath led 
me to this place. 

Reheliah. (Disappearing.) I must go into the 
honse to tell my mother and show her these pres- 
ents. 

Labmi, (Rebekah's brother.) Come in, thou 
blessed of the Lord. "Wlierefore standest thou 
without? For I have prepared the honse, and 
room for the camels, and water to wash your 
feet. Come in and eat. 

Servant, I wiU not eat until I have told my 
errand. 

Lab an. Speak on. 

Servant. I am Abraham's servant. The Lord 
hath blessed my master greatly: he hath given 
him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and 
men servants and maid servants. Abraham ha-s 
sent me to his old home to find a wife for Isaac, 
Ms son. Abraham does not want Isaac to marry 
any one in his new home, because the people wor- 
ship idols. They do not know the true God. I 
met Rebekah at the well. She was very kind to 
me and to the camels. She drew water from the 
well. I want to know whether she is willing to 
go back to the land of Canaan with me. 

Bethuel. ( Rebekah 's father.) The thing pro- 
ceedeth from the Lord. We remember Abraham. 

Lahan. We will let Rebekah go. 



REVIEW AND PREPARATION 155 

Servant, (Gives more presents.) See, Isaac 
hath sent all these presents. He is a kind man. 
He will love Rebekah. She will have a happy 
home. Send me away to my master. 

Mother, (Arms around Eebekah.) Let my 
daughter abide with us a few days, at the least 
ten; after that she shall go. 

Servant, Hinder me not, seeing that the Lord 
hath prospered my way. Send me away that I 
may go to my master. 

Lahan, Rebekah, wilt thou go with this man! 

ReheJcah, I will go. 

(They all leave.) 

Leader. Another story that our school en- 
joyed tells us about a man who had a wonderful 
dream. He was the son of Isaac and Rebekah. 
His name was Jacob. One of the children will 
tell us about the dream. 

Child, Rebekah told her son Jacob to go back 
to her old home because his brother Esau was 
very angry with him. Esau had said he would kill 
Jacob. 

Jacob had to sleep out-of-doors all night. He 
took a stone for his pillow. That night Jacob 
had a dream. I will read about it from the book 
of Genesis. Reads Genesis 28 : 12-22. 

Leader, Jacob did not see his brother for 
many years but when they did meet, Esau put his 
arms around his brother and kissed him. 

School rises and recites : Behold how good and 



156 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together 
in unity. Psalm 133 : 1. If ye forgive men their 
trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive 
yon. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, 
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 
Note. For scenes in the life of Joseph consult 
the Manual of Graded Bible Courses, pages 
44-47; also *^The Dramatization of Bible Sto- 
ries," Elizabeth E. Miller. See also Lessons 7, 
8 and 9 of this course. 



NEW TESTAMENT 

Leader, There are many more stories in the 
Old Testament that we hope to hear next year. 
We will now relate a few of the stories that Mat- 
thew wrote about Jesus in the New Testament. 
"We will first tell you who Matthew was. 

1st Boy, Matthew collected taxes from his peo- 
ple for the king. He was called a publican. Some 
of the publicans were not honest, but Matthew 
was. Jesus saw Matthew sitting in his office col- 
lecting money. He said to Matthew, Follow me. 
I want you to be a teacher. Matthew followed 
Jesus at once. He made a feast for Jesus and 
invited many of his old friends to come and meet 
Jesus at his home. He wanted them to learn from 
Jesus how to be better men. 

After Jesus had gone to heaven, Matthew still 
taught the people. He decided that he would 
write a book about Jesus. He wrote it especially 



REVIEW AND PREPARATION! 157 

for the Jews, for he was a Jew himself and knew 
the Scriptures. This is the book Matthew wrote 
(holding up the Gospel as used in this class). It 
can be read right through in two hours. 

1st Girl, Matthew wrote the story that we al- 
ways hear at Christmas about the three wise men 
who brought their gifts to the child Jesus. 

School, Sings *^We Three Kings.'' (A tableau 
may be arranged, copying Picture, Wilde, 20, 
showing the Wise Men bringing gifts.) 

2nd Girl. Our teacher wants us all to **Look 
Up'' often at the sky and think of the Star of 
Bethlehem and all the other stars of heaven. She 
told us a story of a little boy and girl who said 
*^Good night" to the stars. 

School, *^The heavens declare the glory of 
God and the firmament showeth his handiwork. 
Day unto day uttereth speech and night unto 
night showeth knowledge. ' ' Psalm 19 : 1. 

2nd Boy, Matthew tells us that Joseph took 
the young child Jesus and his mother Mary to 
Egypt by night to escape from the wicked king 
Herod. After Herod died Joseph brought them 
back to a village called Nazareth. Matthew re- 
minded the people that a prophet had written in 
the Old Testament *'Out of Egypt have I called 
my Son." 

Leader, We will now try to show you a tableau 
of the Carpenter's Home in Nazareth. Copy 
Wilde, Picture No. 31. 

^rd Boy, Jesus had a cousin John. Jesus and 



158 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

John studied the Old Testament together when 
they were boys. Eeads Matthew 3 ; 1-6. 

School. *'He that hath ears to hear, let him 
hear." 

3rd Girl Eeads Matthew 3 : 13-17. 

Leader. "Where did Jesus go up after his bap- 
tism? How long did he fast? "What did he say 
to the tempter? 

School. ^'Lead ns not into temptation, but de- 
liver us from evil. ' ' Hymn, * ' I Need Thee Every 
Hour," 2nd stanza. Manual of Hymns, p. 9. 

Leader. Matthew and all the other disciples 
sat with Jesus one day on the side of a Moun- 
tain. Eight children will tell us some of the les- 
sons Jesus taught that day. 

The eight children face the audience and each 
recites one of the Beatitudes. They may hold 
cards with the words printed as given in Les- 
son 18. 

Leader, What is the Golden Eule that Jesus 
taught his disciples? 

School. *' Whatsoever ye would that men 
should do to you do ye even so to them." 

4:th Girl. Jesus taught his disciples how to 
pray. He told them not to make long prayers. 
He told them not to say prayers over and over. 
He said that is the way the heathen do. Then he 
taught the Lord's Prayer which the school will 
now sing (or chant). Manual of Hymns, p. 29. 

Uh Boy. Matthew tells a story of a man who 
was very kind to his servant. He was a cen- 



EEVIEW AND PREPARATION 159 

turion, which means that he was a captain over 
a hundred soldiers. I will read it. Matthew 
8 : 5-10 and verse 13. 

5th Girl. Matthew wrote a story of a great 
tempest on the Sea of Galilee. I will read it. 
Eeads Matthew 8 : 23-27. 

School. Hymn, ** Jesus, Saviour, Pilot Me,'' 

p. 11. 

Leader. In the 9th chapter of Matthew's Gos- 
pel, Matthew tells five stories of Jesus' love and 
power. Five children will tell us these stories. 

Five children face the audience. 

1st. Tells story of the man let down through 
roof. 

2nd. Tells story of the little girl. 

3rd. Tells story of the woman who touched 
Jesus' clothing. 

4th. Tells story of the blind man. 

5th. Tells story of the dumb man. 

School and audience sing, ^^I love to tell the 
story," p. 10. 

Primary Class sing, ' ' I think when I read that 
sweet story of old." 



MEMORIZING SELECTED PASSAGES OP 
SCRIPTURE 

It is desirable to memorize whole selections of 
Scripture as well as single texts connected with 
the lessons. On Fridays recite all memory verses 
of the week or weeks. Ask questions requiring 
the text as an answer. 

Isolated texts are not so valuable for memoriz- 
ing as selected passages, which give a complete 
whole. If the thought extends through several 
verses, read them as a unit instead of verse by 
verse. Many can memorize more quickly in this 
way. 

We urge teachers to use a few minutes every 
day for drill on some of the following selections : 

1. The Lord's Prayer. 

2. The Twenty-third Psalm. 

3. The Shortest Psahn (117th), 

4. The Beatitudes, Math. 5 : 1-10. 

5. I Cor. 13. 

6. John 14:1-3. 

7. John 3 : 16-17. 

8. Math. 22:36-40. 

9. Math. 11 : 28-30. 

10. Ps. 1. 

11. Ps. 19. 

160 



MEMORIZING PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE 161 

12. Ps. 100. 

13. Ps. 150. 

14. Ex. 20:1-17. 

Develop the thought of the passage before 
memorizing. Write difficult words and define 
them. Use the blackboard, writing a text and 
omitting several words. Who can supply these 
omissions? 

Drills if varied can be made very interesting. 
Ask children to time themselves at home in learn- 
ing a selection. Time the class also as a whole. 
Have the children know under what circum- 
stances the selection was written, who wrote it, 
where it is found. Drill on finding it quickly. 

Very briefly test the children's understanding 
of the meaning of each selection. Secure a natu- 
ral tone of voice, not the regulation drill so often 
heard in concert work. Hold the Bible open to 
the place while reciting. 

If older children have Bibles, let them read 
through the entire selection silently, then aloud. 
Eead responsively. Ask who will read the selec- 
tion to the class, who can recite it. Some chil- 
dren memorize rapidly, and others will be sur- 
prised and stimulated by their rapid success. 
Let all try to repeat in concert, only glancing at 
the book when necessary. A little emulation is 
fine. Who will come to the front and lead us! 
Boys recite. Girls. All. Train the older chil- 
dren gradually to find these selections for them- 



162 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

selves. Give the children who can read, a copy 
of the Psalms, telling them that it is a book of 
poetry and song. David played on a harp and 
sang some of these songs. He is sometimes 
called ^^The sweet singer of Israel." 



GAMES TO AID IN BIBLE DKILLING 

Have the children fold 66 four-inch squares 
of paper to look like little books. Children who 
can read and write are to copy the name of a 
Bible book upon each paper book. Small cards 
may be used instead of paper if more conveni- 
ent. Show the boys and girls where to find the 
names of these books of the Bible. 

1. See who can most quickly separate the 
books belonging to the Old Testament from those 
of the New Testament, putting a band around 
each pile. Count and verify, 39 + 27 = 66, 

2. Taking the books of the Old Testament, try 
to place them in the right order. Children com- 
pare with each other and see who has succeeded 
best. There may be friendly rivalry between 
boys and girls. 

Correct by the list in the front of the Bible, 
one child reading it as the others make changes 
if there are errors. 

3. Take the New Testament books in the same 
way. 

4. Select all the books named after persons. 
Tell a story about each person. 



MEMORIZING PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE 163 

5. Secure small cards and write the names of 
all persons mentioned in the Bible stories. Count 
who has remembered the greatest number. Dif- 
ferent children may be called upon to tell a brief 
story about each person. 

6. Write the names of all places mentioned in 
the Bible stories. See who has the longest list 
and can tell what happened at each place. 

Children should be encouraged to play these 
little games at home, teaching them to other chil- 
dren. 

7. See who can draw the map of Palestine in 
two minutes, locating a river, a lake, a sea, and 
five cities of interest. Keep time by the clock. 

8. Find all passages that have been memo- 
rized. Find story of David and Goliath, of Sam- 
uel, of Elijah, of Eebekah, of Ruth, etc. 



SUGGESTIONS ON THE USE OF PICTURES 

Sixty pictures (6x8)* have been carefully 
chosen and forty corresponding pictures in 
miniature (3x4) f to illustrate Life Stories in the 
Old and the New Testament and to be used in 
Bible Albums. 

We suggest that borders of the larger pictures 
be arranged low on the walls in weekly groups. 
There is often an advantage in presenting one 
picture at a time at the very moment it is needed, 
and then adding it to the border, but there are 
also advantages in mounting the whole set at once 
if there is suitable wall place for a continuous 
border. The border will make an attractive deco- 
ration and one which speaks of the nature of the 
school to all who attend. 

Gall the border an **Open Bible Picture Book.'' 
Invite the children to walk around before school 
opens and at other convenient periods to look 
freely at the pictures. Then after the story has 
been told, see who can find the story in a picture. 

Let children choose those pictures that they 
wish to use in making their own Bible Picture 
Album if the full set is too expensive. Some chil- 
dren will be able to pay for their pictures, week 
by week. It is wise to have them form the habit 
of spending their pennies for good pictures. 

*W. A. Wilde & Co., Boston, 
t G. P. Brown & Co., Beverly, Mass. 

164 



SUGGESTIONS ON USE OF PICTURES 165 

Let eaclL child plan wliat to do with his or her 
Bible Picture Book. Use them on review days. 
Show their playmates who do not attend D. V. 
B. S. Keep the Bible Picture Book in the home 
for future study and to share with companions 
and friends from time to time. Study names of 
some of the great artists who painted such pic- 
tures to help in making Bible scenes more real 
to us. Some of these pictures are in stained glass 
windows in the cathedrals of Europe. 

LIST OP PICTURES (6x8). MAY BE OEDBRED FROM 

W. A. WILDE & COMPANY, BOSTON, AT A CENT 

AND A HALF EACH 

OLD TESTAMENT 
First and Second Weeks. 

NUMBER 

* 350. Abraham journeying into the land of Canaan. 

* 353. Sending forth Hagar. 

355. Hagar and Ishmael in the Desert. 

* 360. Eliezer meets Rebekah. 

* 246. A troop of camels. 

* 361. Eliezer at the house of Bethuel. 
362. Isaac receives Eebekah. 

* 363. Isaac and Rebekah before Abraham. 

* 366. Jacob's dream. 

608. Jacob in the house of Laban. 

Second Week, 

NUMBER 

* 39. Jesus in the Temple, asking questions. 

* 568. Joseph's dream. 

* 368. Joseph sold. 

* 607. Joseph's coat brought to Jacob. 



166 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

* 371. Joseph interpreting Pharaoh^s dream. 
570. Joseph and Pharaoh's dream. 

* 571. Joseph selling com. 
606. Benjamin and the cup. 

* 372. Joseph makes himself known. 



NEW TESTAMENT 





Third Week. 


NUMBER 


*237. 


Scroll. 


* 590. 


Star of Bethlehem. 


20. 


Worship of the Magi. 


*397. 


Flight into Egypt. 


182. 


Nazareth. 


* 31. 


Carpenter's home. 


* 43. 


John preaching. 


313. 


Judea and the Dead Sea. 


•109. 


Christ blessing children. 



Fourth Weelc, 

NUMBER 

*208. Mt. Quarantana. 

47. Christ and fishermen. 

* 70. Healing sick child. 

71. " " " 



*680. 


Preaching at Capemanm. 


* 76. 


Preaching from boat. 


* 64. 


Sermon on the Mount. 


*108. 


Pharisee and Publican. 


716. 


Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh. 


•466. 


Good Samaritan. 


100. 


U U 


480. 


David sparing Saul's life. 




Fifth Week. 


NUMBER 


•417. 


Samuel. 


438. 


Young David. 



SUGGESTIONS ON USE OF PICTURES 167 

* 784. David praising God. 
736. Dedication of Solomon's Temple, 



384. 


Solomon's Temple. 


525. 


Daniel in lions' den. 


*722. 


Sparrows. 


* 67. 


Consider the lilies. 


69. 


Healing the sick. 


* 68. 


Centurion's servant. 


* 78. 


Storm at Sea. 


90. 


Wild Boy — demoniac. 




Sixth WeeJc. 



NUMBER 

* 686. Jesus heals the man with palsy. 

* 704. Jesus leads the blind man. 

* 79. Daughter of Jairus. 

* 57. Call of Matthew. 

* 116. The Good Shepherd. 
*127. The Widow's mite. 

* 544. Parable of the Sower. 
*110. Christ blessing children. 



Note. Those pictures not starred may be 
omitted. The full set gives opportunity for more 
extended illustration of certain lessons, as The 
Beatitudes. Let the children find the picture 
story that illustrates ''Poor in spirit," etc. 

In ** Value of Little Things," consider as exam- 
ples, a seed, a penny, a lamb, a child, hence the use 
of the last four pictures. In case boys and girls 
are over twelve years of age these additional pic- 
tures will lead to further study at home. The 
nationality of the artists will arouse an interest 
in other countries. 



168 LIFE STORIES FROM NEW TESTAMENT 

LIST OF MINIATURE PICTUBES (3x3%). MAY BE 

ORDERED FROM GEORGE P. BROWN & CO., BEVERLY, 

MASS., AT THE RATE OF TWO FOR ONE CENT. 



OLD TESTAMENT 
First Week. 

KUMBER 

425. Abraham journeying. 

428. Sending forth Hagar. 

430. Hagar and Ishmael in the desert. 

436. Rebekah at the well. 

437. Eliezer meets Rebekah. 

438. Eliezer at the house of Bethuel. 
440. Isaac and Rebekah before Abraham. 
443. Jacob's dream. 

Second Week, 

NUMBER 

185. Jesus asking questions of the Doctors. 

302. Joseph sold. 

446. The coat taken to Jacob. 

447. Joseph interpreting Pharaoh's dream, 

448. Joseph Makes Himself Known. 
624. Christ Blessing Children. 



NEW TESTAMENT 
Third Week. 

NUMBER 

539. The Star of Bethlehem. 

* 547. Might into Egypt. 

557. Jesus in the carpenter's shop. 

560. Christ and John. 

561. Nazareth. 

188. John preaching. 



SUGGESTIONS ON USE OF PICTURES 109 





Fourth Week, 


NUKBER 


195. 


Healing the sick ciiild. 


578. 


Healing the sick. 


208. 


Preaching in the synagogue. 


193. 


Preaching from a boat. 


585. 


The Sermon on the Mount. 


613. 


Publican and Pharisee. 


620. 


The Good Samaritan. 




Fifth Week, 


NUMBER 


507. 


Samuel praying. 


614. 


Consider the lilies. 


766. 


Bluebird. 


601. 


The Centurion. 


198. 


Stilling the tempest. 



Sixth Week, 

NUMBIS 

200. Daughter of Jairus. 
597. The blind man. 

199. Man sick of the palsy. 

201. Call of Matthew. 
632, The Widow's mite. 
214. The lost coin. 

615. The Good Shepherd. 
216. Christ blessing children. 



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